Lira high court adjourns case over Odongo Okune’s election

23 August 2024, 5:15 pm

By Denis Okello

Lira High Court has adjourned the hearing of a case filed by the Lango Cultural Foundation (LCF) and four clans, which sought to prevent the election of Eng. Dr. Michael Moses Odongo Okune as the new Lango Paramount Chief, until 6 November 2024.

On 28 February 2024, the Lango Cultural Foundation, James Robert Ajal, Denis Obia Achila, Benjamin Okii, and Dila Benson Oyuku, through their lawyer Emmanuel Egaru Omiat, filed a court case seeking a temporary injunction to halt the election of Eng. Dr. Michael Moses Odongo Okune.

The case was dismissed by the then Deputy Registrar of Lira High Court, Ssalamu Godfrey Ngoobi, and the election of Eng. Dr. Michael Moses Odongo Okune proceeded on 1 March 2024.

The matter was due to be heard yesterday by Justice Duncan Gaswaga, but the Deputy Registrar of Lira High Court, Daniel Kawesa, informed the court that the judge was in Gulu preparing for the sentencing of former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo at the International Crimes Division in Gulu. Kawesa then adjourned the case until 6 November 2024.

Patrick Okwir, one of the lawyers representing the newly elected Lango Paramount Chief, Eng. Dr. Michael Moses Odongo Okune, along with Willy Omodo Omodo and George Ojwang Opota, stated that they informed the court that they had not received an invitation from Bishop Alfred Olwa of Lango Diocese for mediation between the two cultural factions.

Council of Owitong Speaker, Willy Omodo Omodo, said they will proceed with plans for Eng. Dr. Michael Moses Odongo Okune’s coronation, as it has not been affected by the adjournment of the case.

James Robert Ajal said they had expected the court to have resolved the matter before the planned coronation of Eng. Dr. Michael Moses Odongo Okune.