LUGBARA KARI FACTION CALLS FOR DIALOGUE OVER AGOFE LEADERSHIP DISPUTE

His Highness Alia Angelo Pati the Newly Installed Agofe of the Lugbara Chiefdom seated in-between the Terego Clan Chief and Vura Clan Chief. Photo//Dramadri Federick.

By Dramadri Federick

The Lugbara Kari faction under the leadership of Yuma Amuku Manasseh has called for dialogue to resolve the leadership dispute following the installation of Alia Angello Pati as fourth Agofe of the Lugbara Chiefdom, despite a court directive halting the ceremony.

The dispute escalated after Ejiku Elly Emoo petitioned the Office of the Resident City Commissioner and the Chief Magistrate upon receiving a letter inviting him to attend the installation ceremony, he challenged the planned installation describing it as an illegal enthronement.

Arua Chief Magistrate Paul Matema subsequently convened a meeting involving representatives of the rival factions to hear their positions before halting the swearing-in.

The magistrate directed that the elected Agofe must first be gazetted by the responsible minister before the installation and swearing in processes could proceed.

Bayo Yuda an elder in Ayivu Chiefdom says disregarding the will of the Lugbara people, who elected Yuma Amuku Manasseh as their leader, undermines their right to freedom of association and could trigger further legal battles.

“The current team under the leadership of Angelo Pati should convene a dialogue so that we come with a common Consensus on who should lead us otherwise if not these matters will end up in courts of law”. Yuda explains

Ejiku Elly Emoo, the former chairperson of the Lugbara Kari Election Select Committee, questioned the activities of the rival faction under Tuku Ismail, saying the gathering was a party rather than a legitimate cultural activity.

“They were doing enthronement in a hotel, where is their palace?” Ejiku says

Richard Andama, a former prime minister under the Mike Agondua, who participated in the meeting chaired by the chief magistrate, described the decision to proceed with the installation despite the court’s guidance as unfortunate.

“The process of installation that happened yesterday is illegitimate, it’s not within the law”. Andama notes

As per the Lugbara Kari constitution, the Leadership of the Lugbara Chiefdom is Rotational among the four clan chiefs and this is after every five years of an Agofe’s Service.

However, while addressing people gathered at Coco Palm Hotel in Arua City shortly after his installation, Alia Angello Pati called for forgiveness and reconciliation among the Lugbara, arguing that taking cultural disputes to court would not resolve their differences.

“In the Lugbara culture, you don’t accuse your brother because if you do so, that’s bad luck, let’s keep that and let love continue among us”. Pati states

The leadership dispute dates back to the death of His Highness Jason Avutia III in 2023, when Tuku Ismail, then prime minister under Avutia, reportedly entered the race for Agofe against Yuma Amuku Manasseh, who was the Ayivu Clan Chief.

The contest sparked controversy over compliance with the Lugbara Kari Constitution. After the election select committee disqualified Tuku Ismail, he is said to have introduced Alia Angello Pati, whose installation has now deepened divisions within the cultural institution.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis