Lira City, Uganda: The Lango Cultural Foundation has announced plans to release a detailed roadmap for the election of a new Won Nyaci, marking a decisive step toward resolving years of leadership disputes and restoring unity within Lango.
The transition follows the death of Paramount Chief Yosam Odur Ebii on November 10, 2025, which triggered a constitutional succession process under the LCF Constitution (2017).
LCF Minister for Innovation and Technology, Felix Adupa Ongwech, said the forthcoming roadmap will outline clear timelines and procedures to ensure a transparent and credible election.
“We are at a critical moment as a people. The roadmap we are about to unveil will guide Lango through a transparent and credible process of choosing a new Won Nyaci,” Ongwech said.
“This is not just an election—it is an opportunity to restore confidence, unity, and respect for our cultural systems.”
Following the monarch’s death, the Council of Owitong (clan leaders) declared the seat vacant and appointed Prime Minister Fredrick Ogwal Oyee as interim Won Nyaci.
His tenure, limited to one year, is intended to ensure continuity while preparations for elections are completed.
Addressing stakeholders in Lira, Ogwal Oyee emphasised strict adherence to constitutional procedures and warned against parallel processes.
“The process leading to the approval and subsequent enthronement of the new Won Nyaci shall strictly follow the Constitution. No individual or group has the mandate to preempt this process,” he said.
“Our strength as Lango lies in our unity. This election should not divide us further but instead bring us together.”
Amid ongoing tensions, Bura clan chief Benjamin Okii dismissed allegations of defying court orders, insisting his actions remain within cultural and legal boundaries. “There is no law that bars an Awitong from performing cultural rituals. Any grievances should be addressed through the courts, not the media,” Okii said.
He clarified that existing court directives target specific individuals and reaffirmed his openness to Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms. “We are open to dialogue, but it must be structured and respectful. Ultimately, the courts will guide us where disagreements persist,” he added.
Okii also urged calm among the Lango community, warning against misinformation and cultural misrepresentation.
Background of Leadership Disputes
The upcoming election comes after years of division between the Lango Cultural Foundation and a rival faction, the Lango Cultural Institution led by Michael Moses Odongo Okune.
In October 2024, the High Court in Lira intervened, halting parallel elections and cautioning against actions that could undermine the constitutional framework guiding the cultural institution.
The Won Nyaci is elected through a hybrid system combining universal suffrage and clan-based representation.
All Lango adults aged 18 and above are eligible to participate, with the process coordinated through an electoral college of 148 clan chiefs.
Candidates must be recognised clan leaders, typically aged between 50 and 80, and must meet nomination requirements set by the cultural electoral commission. Following the vote, the winner is enthroned by the Council of Owitong and subsequently gazetted by government for official recognition.
With a population of over 2 million across nine districts, Lango now faces a defining moment.
Leaders say the forthcoming election offers a rare opportunity to resolve long-standing divisions and rebuild trust in cultural leadership.
“History will judge us by how we handle this transition,” Ogwal Oyee said. “Let us choose peace, respect the law, and give Lango the leadership it deserves.”
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