LUGBARA KARI LEADER YUMA AMUKU MANASSEH TO BE BURIED ON SATURDAY

The late agofe at his home in a previous engagement with the media,

By Sunday Amandi

Arua city

The Lugbara cultural institution, Lugbara Kari is in somber mood mourning the death of its paramount chief known as the Agofe, Yuma Amuku Manase in Arua regional referral hospital after battling prostate related illness.

Yuma Amuku Manasseh who was elected as the Ayivu chief on January 15, 2023, and as the paramount chief on July 13, 2023 died in the wee hours of Monday morning.

Ajiyo Irene, the second daughter of the late confirmed the passing away of his father to the media.

“The fast condition dad had developed some years back was hypertension and diabetes, three years also, dad developed a prostate problem, when we took dad to Gulu, MBN was done, then my sister who was working in Gulu sent the results to Mulago, then after reviewing, it was seen that, there was prostate enlargement and there was a cancer bit starting, just in September here, when dad again developed pricking pain and so on, we went yesterday in emergency unit in Arua regional referral hospital, something just took me like a sleep, then it even woke me up immediately, then when I put my hand on dad’s chest, that’s when the breath was not found,” Ajiyo confirmed.

The late Amuku Yuma Manasseh served the Lugbara Kari as the Agofe during a difficult time when the leadership of the cultural institution is divided into two factions due to disagreements over a number of issues.

Ejiku Elly Emmo, the prime minister for the faction of leadership that was under the stewardship of the fallen leader says, they have lost a dedicated leader.

“His plans were so good, they were meant to help the community, he thought of alleviating the poverty of Lugbara people, getting Lugbara children enlightened, having Lugbara land at least saved from being grabbed away, we are very perturbed, we don’t know how we are going to go on, but we believe that God is great,” Elly said.

Prime Minister Ejiku Elly (third right) and some elders making arrangements at the home of the late,

The late Manasseh was an educated leader with various qualifications including bachelor’s degree in social works, Diploma in local government administration, Diploma in law among others, and served as a sub-county chief, teacher, deputy head teacher, and lecture among others before joining the cultural leadership.

His body was taken to Adumi health center for preservation and according to the program released by Lugbara kari, the body will be taken  for the council of elders to saw their respect in Onduparaka on Wednesday, there after taken to Ariceni church of Uganda for a night vigil, the body will be taken to his home on Thursday, and on Friday afternoon, the body will be taken to Adalafu church of Uganda, burial service will be held in the church on Saturday, and he will be buried at his ancestral home  on the same day.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis