Apac, Uganda: Government has confirmed that the late His Highness Yosam Odur Ebii, the former Won Nyaci of the Lango, will receive an official burial, one of the highest state honours ever accorded to a cultural leader in Uganda.
The announcement followed the release of the burial programme by the family of the 99-year-old statesman, who died on November 10, 2025, at 4:20 a.m. at Lira University Teaching Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for nearly two weeks.
Speaking during the official announcement on Monday, his son Anthony Olobo Odur, who also serves as the Awitong of the Atek Omonpel clan, said government had already commenced logistical and security preparations for the final send-off.
“I am happy to announce that government will give the official burial to our former Won Nyaci,” Mr Odur confirmed, noting that transport, coordination and security arrangements were underway to ensure a dignified farewell.
The news has sparked deep emotion across the Lango sub-region, where Mzee Odur is cherished as a unifying cultural titan whose leadership shaped the identity and cohesion of the Lango people.
Burial and Memorial Programme
According to the released burial programme, the memorial service starts Tuesday, November 18, 2025, with prayers at Old Saint Cathedral, Kampala (2:00 PM). Although the body will not be present, portrait banners and memorial displays will be installed for mourners, dignitaries and clergy to honour the late cultural leader.
On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Cultural leaders, clan heads, elders and government representatives will convene in Lira for a special sitting reflecting on Mzee Odur’s stewardship and the future of Lango leadership structures.
On Thursday, November 20, 2025, the body will be taken to Boroboro Church of Uganda for a night vigil featuring sermons, tributes, hymns and prayers.
On Friday, November 21, 2025, the body will proceed to his ancestral home in Teboke, Apac District, for a second night vigil expected to attract large crowds from the region and beyond.
Mzee Odur will be laid to rest on Saturday, November 22, the day after the Teboke vigil, in a ceremony expected to draw national attention due to his influence and the government’s direct involvement.
A Cultural Titan Departs
His Highness Yosam Odur Ebii presided as Won Nyaci through some of Lango’s most defining historical periods. Known for his calm persuasion, wisdom and reconciliatory leadership, he became a father figure whose counsel shaped both cultural and political discourse.
“My father served his people with humility, wisdom, and dedication. The government’s decision to honour him in this way shows the impact he had on our nation,” his son Anthony Olobo Odur said.
Across Lira, Apac, Kole, Oyam, Alebtong and beyond, he is remembered as a custodian of cultural preservation and generational continuity whose legacy remains deeply woven into the identity of the Lango.
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