PLANNED SWEARING IN OF LUGBARA KARI AGOFE IN ARUA CITY FLOPS

A cultural leader (Guma Richard ‘Binia) dressed in blue, performing cultural rituals of enthronement of the paramount chief – Photo by Morish Dramadri

By Morish Dramadri

Arua city

The Lugbara cultural institution, Lugbara Kari, has failed to swear in its paramount chief, known as the “Agofe,” following an injunction issued by Arua Chief Magistrate’s Court.

In a letter dated October 1, 2026, Lugbara Kari, under the leadership of Angelo Pati, the Chief of Maracha Clan, invited dignitaries to witness the swearing-in of Alia Angelo Pati as the fourth Agofe of Lugbara Kari. The event, which was scheduled to take place at Coco Palm in Arua City, was, however, halted following the court’s intervention.

The suspension followed a petition by Ejiku Elly Emoo, the prime minister of the faction led by Yuma Manasseh Amuku, the Chief of Ayivu Clan, to the Office of the Resident City Commissioner. The petition sought to stop what the faction described as the illegal enthronement of Alia Anzello Pati.

Frustrated leaders of Lugbara Kari harmonizing their program after court suspended the swearing in, photo by Morish Dramadri

On Monday, Arua Chief Magistrate Paul Matema convened a meeting with representatives of the two factions to hear their views on the matter. He subsequently called off the swearing-in, arguing that the elected Agofe must first be gazetted by the responsible minister before the necessary legal processes can proceed.

The failed swearing-in of Anzello Alia Pati, the Chief of Maracha Clan, as the fourth Agofe of Lugbara Kari comes amid an ongoing leadership dispute involving Yuma Manasseh Amuku, the elected Agofe and Chief of Ayivu Clan.

Ejiku Elly Emoo, who served as the presiding officer during the recent election in which Yuma Manasseh was elected Agofe, welcomed the magistrate’s decision to suspend the swearing-in of Anzello Alia Pati.

“What the court advised is the right way. Lies have very long legs; they move very fast. These people have been lying to people, but they have now reached the end. They cannot lie anymore,” Ejiku said.

Amid the court injunction, the set faction of the Lugbara Kari leadership held what they termed as a cultural enthronement where Alia Anzelo Pati received symbols of authority such as the bow and arrows, spear among other.

Leaders of the embattled Lugbara kari faction posing for a photo with the Secretary-General of the Uganda Kings and Cultural Leaders’ Forum, (in white kanzu) – photo by Morish Dramadri

Speaking at the event, where cultural installation rituals were performed despite the suspension of the swearing-in, Anzello Alia Pati, the Agofe-designate, called for peace among the Lugbara people, urging the parties to resolve their differences without resorting to legal action.

“This sitting is to preserve the Lugbara culture. The Lugbara culture prohibits taking legal action against a brother because, when you do that, it brings bad luck. Let’s all maintain that as we continue to love one another,” Pati appealed.

However, Ambassador George Otim, the Secretary-General of the Uganda Kings and Cultural Leaders’ Forum, criticized the chief magistrate for failing to allow the swearing-in to proceed. He argued that any aggrieved party could seek legal redress after the enthronement.

“We have done due diligence in this chiefdom before this enthronement. Now, the judicial officer should not fear swearing in the new Agofe. If anybody has a query, he is free to go to court,” Atim said.

The suspension of the swearing-in of Anzello Alia Pati marks the latest development in the protracted dispute between two factions over the leadership of the Lugbara cultural institution.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis