National
UGANDA: ACHOLI LET US CELEBRATE THE RETIREMENT OF WOD BOLO, GEN OTEMA AWANY, RATHER THAN MOURNING
In the past, we welcomed the dead bodies of our sons; today, we are receiving retired Gen. Otema Awany, who served the government with discipline and dignity. He fought many wars both in Uganda and in foreign lands. Acholi should be happy. In 2011, we welcomed the casket of Col. Walter Ochora; later, Jacob Oulanyah Lanywen, the speaker of 11th parliament we welcomed the body of Major General Julius Oketta; in 2021, we received the body of Lt. Gen Paul Lukech. Let Acholi enjoy the ululations.
Wod Bolo Odwogo paco
GULU CITY-AUGUST 27, 2026.
By Okumu Livingstone Langol, (Uganda Correspondent)
Emeritus Acholi Paramount Chief, Rwot David Onen Acana II, for the first time broke the silence of the hide-and-seek game and came open to mourn sons of Acholi from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), who had died under circumstances that raised concern.
The paramount chief, who received Retired Gen. Charles Otema Awany at the Acholi Ker Kwaro, with Bwola royal dance before the egg, Pobo and Layep, was laid down at Acholi Wang Kac, as required by Acholi traditions that require a person who has been away from home, been in prison, or survived dead must undergo ritual cleansing by stepping on an egg, stepping on Pobo, must be welcome home by offering Layep, the granary stick.
Retired UPDF general Otema Awany walked at Acholi Ker Kwaro Wang Kac, with his wife Hon. Catherine Lamwaka, and four sons, including the former Northern Youth MP for the 10th Parliament, Hon Oscar Omony Otema, his elder son, as faithful supporter’s seer him with ululation dances and holding tree branches.
Gen Otema Awany, in his maiden statement before Rwodi Acholi was so agog, a man with few words, hinted.
“I am very happy. Although I have left my government job, I am going to do other jobs. I am joining you, Acholi, who has been trying to work for the community. In the past, Emeritus Chief Justice Owiny Dollo Chigamoi and Amb Dr. Olara Otunnu initiated efforts to revive Acholi Traditional Culture, decadent, and are joining them to help rebuild our society, Retired General Otema Awany reiterates.
He furthermore asserted, Ladit Rwot Acana, and other Acholi chiefs and your deputy Paramount Chief Rwot Lamogi Otinga Otto Yayi and Mayor of Bardege Okello Sukari, Mayor Laroo-Pece City Division Aber Gifter and all the Councillors present, I greet you all in the name of God.
Your Royal Chief, let me begin to thank you. When the travelling shooter other Acholi Chiefs broke away from you, and they elected Rwot Richard Santo Apire as the Acholi Paramount Chief, I stood with you. Among the Acholi sons who are ready to work with you, when I retired, Door to Door came to me that we should organise my welcome. I asked him why he wanted to drag me into politics again, but I am happy we are today.
However, I directed him to you. Secondly, I have so many think that I can offer to our people for development, the other day on Sunday when I came to pray at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, I met over 50 youth who dressed in tater clothes, they were dirty, I told myself who are the girls those boys were dancing with them, and yet during our time in the olden hay days when we used to go for social gathering, dancing, we used to be very smart, why now?
Back home
When I have arrived at home, the services were conducted, during services, the Parish Preach told me now I am his Catechist, before when I was retiring President told me that he is going to create Northern Provincial, and I am going to be appointed Governor of Northern Uganda, and when I came to Gen. Salim Saleh argued Northern Uganda is reach with minerals. Let us begin to develop and start mining minerals, and now you want to offer me my job; I welcome it.
Rwot Lamogi, Otinga Otto Yayi, was so impressed by the presence of Retired Gen Otema Awany; he instructed him that he is going to make sure that he ascended to become Member of Parliament, but he did not mention it openly.
Retired Gen Otema Awany summoned his Clan Chief, Rwot Lacen of Bolo, a day he reached Tangi village, his home for the Kwer merok, he also stepped, and egg, Pobo tree and Layep were given to him.
Now his Bolo clan are waiting to welcome him officially to Ker Kwero Bolo, upon which Rwot Puranga, Rowt Ochan Jimmy Luwala, will receive him to his Puranga Chiefdom.
Retired Gen Otema Awny, his grandfather Obura Latoka, fled the slaughter of the British colonialists when he killed the white man in a place called Rackoko, meaning don’t play around this place; you will be killed now in Pader District.
Obura Latoka later fled to Payira, to his sister’s marriage in the Palami clan; later, he killed an Arab who was rapping his sister. Later, Obura Latoka was taken as a refugee to the Rwot Lagony of Koch, where he settled.
