Legal battle looms as Lango paramount chief election faces court challenge

10 September 2024, 5:37 pm

By Denis Okello

The Lango Cultural Foundation sought court intervention on 28 February 2023 to halt the election of the new Lango Paramount Chief, which was scheduled for 1 March 2024.

The respondents in the matter are the Lango Paramount Chief-elect, Eng. Dr. Moses Michael Odongo Okune, George Ojwang Opota, Willy Omodo Omodo, Tom Otim, Beatrice Catherine Amongi Lagada, and other members of the Electoral Commission.

The matter was heard before Lira High Court Judge, Justice Duncan Gaswaga, and the Deputy Registrar, Godfrey Kawesa, who adjourned the case until 6 November 2024. However, this decision was not well received by Emmanuel Egaru, the lawyer for the Lango Cultural Foundation, as this date falls after the coronation of Odongo Okune.

Emmanuel Egaru told Voice of Lango FM that he had written to Justice Duncan Gaswaga requesting that the court reconsider the date for hearing and ruling on the matter. However, Gaswaga is currently in Tanzania, where he will remain for one month after being appointed as one of the judges of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Egaru said that since the judge of Gulu High Court will be overseeing Lira High Court, they are considering petitioning him instead.