Lango Chief most patriotic cultural leader-President Museveni
Council of Elders performing rituals on the casket of the King before the burial on Friday at Adila Village, Apac on Saturday
By Patrick Okino
President Yoweri Museveni has mourned the Lango Paramount Chief, Won Nyaci Yosam Odur, describing him as one of Uganda’s most patriotic cultural leaders.
In a message delivered by Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo during the burial ceremony held on Saturday, 22nd, at the late King’s ancestral home in Adila ‘A’ Village, Teboke, Apac District, the President extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and the people of Lango.
The Paramount Chief passed away on November 10th at Lira University Teaching Hospital. According to Dr. Nixon Onyanga, a physician and lecturer, he had been admitted on November 4th and later succumbed to respiratory complications resulting from community-acquired pneumonia.
President Museveni who contributed sh10m towards burial expenses noted that Odur steered the Lango community to greater heights and died at a time when he was still greatly needed.
He added that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Government made a significant decision in 1994 to restore cultural institutions and create new ones for communities that wished to revive or establish them. This, he said, was aimed at safeguarding Uganda’s cultural heritage from negative foreign influences.
Museveni further emphasized the importance of cultural institutions in preserving the rich and diverse cultural norms of African communities.
He called upon the leadership of the Lango Cultural Foundation to continue protecting their customs so that Africa’s contribution to global cultural heritage can be fully appreciated.
He also thanked the people of Lango for their continued support to the NRM Government and for upholding the peace that came at a high price through the sacrifices of NRA fighters. The late Odur, he said, will be greatly missed by his family, the royal clan, the Lango region, and the entire nation.
“I share with you the grief of this difficult moment and pray that God gives you strength and courage to go through it,” the President’s message read.
The Prime Minister of the Lango Cultural Foundation (LCF), Frederick Ogwal Oyee, praised Mzee Odur Ebii for understanding that development is impossible without peace.
He said the late Paramount Chief dedicated himself to reconciliation efforts, especially in the aftermath of regional conflicts and internal social upheavals. His mediation skills, Ogwal noted, were instrumental in resolving hundreds of communal land disputes, resulting in a documented 45% reduction in related community violence over the past decade.
“He used the institutional platform of the LCF to drive practical economic empowerment. This approach led to key partnerships with NGOs and government agencies to promote modern agricultural techniques,” Ogwal added.
As they mourn, Ogwal said the community must also look forward, noting that the best tribute to Mzee Yosam Odur Ebii is a firm commitment to preserve and expand his legacy.
As Prime Minister and Acting Won Nyaci, he pledged that his leadership—guided by the Council—will focus on “resolute continuity,” centered on peace, health, and productivity.
He further stated that the LCF will intensify efforts to resolve outstanding internal differences through transparent mechanisms, ensuring accountability and institutional stability.
During the ceremony, the Council of Elders—the highest decision-making organ of the LCF—performed cultural rituals led by Joel Aliro Omara, a former Uganda Human Right commissioner. The elders carried a wooden spear to symbolically cast out the spirits of divisionism, hatred, needless wrangles, and impersonation, before dancing and welding the wooden spear around the casket as part of the traditional rites.
