UGANDA: “LOU ENIGMA LEADER PROF. ANYONG’NYONG’O JOINS FORMER UN ENVOY OTUNNU IN HIGH-LEVEL STRATEGIC ACHOLI ENGAGEMENT”

All the roads from Kisumu, Nyanza. Kenya will be leading to Acholi land, as Jalou traced their roots back to central Lou of Northern Uganda, this visit was delayed by the death of former Prime Minister His Excellency Raila Amollo Odinga.

GULU CITY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2025

By Okumu Livingstone Langol, Our Correspondent.

Former United Nations Under Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ambassador Dr. Olara Otunnu has announced that Prof. Peter Anyang ’Nyong’o, the governor of Kisumu City in Kenya, is scheduled to visit the Acholi sub-region on December 17, 2025.

Speaking on Monday, December 8, 2025, at Northern Uganda Media Club media fraternity, at the office of Rocco Paco, Acholi Cultural Revival Heritage Office in Gulu City. Amb. John Carless Olara Otunnu revealed that the visit will focus on strengthening cultural Diplomacy and supporting ongoing effort to preserve and revitalize Lou heritage across Lou land south of Share African

According to Amb. Otunnu, Prof. Nyong’o an internationally respected scholar, statement, and long-time advocate for African Cultural resilience will arrive in the country on Friday, December 12, 2025. And he will be hosted to a dinner by Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo Cihgamoi at his residence in Kampala and on Sunday, December 13, he will be hosted to Acholi tadeonal gala dances at Lugogo Shows ground in Kampala.

On Monday, December 14, Prof. Nyong’O will visit East Acholi Lumule, Pawiri village where he will meet groups of Laraka raka courtship dances hosted by Watmon, and proceed to Madi-opeyi Sub County where a big traditional gather by Acholi Cultural leaders will take place.

“The group of Otole dances, war dance, Apiti, and Acut will be displayed at his highest visit, Before, Prof. Nyong’o proceed, he will visit Angagura Sub County, the home of Jilo Irwa and Okello, the martyrdoms. On his way he will visit Forth Patiko, the former Slave trade center in Northern Uganda.

On December 17, Nyong’o will meet and address Acholi traditional cultural leaders at TASK Center in Gulu City during his visit. The engagement is expected to center on shared historical ties, cultural preservation, and cross-border cooperation between Acholi and Lou communities in East Africa.

Amb. Otunnu argued that we need to see Agricultural productions from Northern Uganda, especially Millet, Maize, Cow piece “Ngor Lou” Soybean Cassava to pass to Kenya through Kisumu, and encourage traditional dancers to start engaging with another Lou in the region. Why can Acholi rich cultural dances be going to Bunia, Eastern DR. Congo, Juba City, South Sudan, Kisumu City and Anywak land in Western Ethiopia.

“This visit is not only symbolic, but deeply significant for cultural renewal across our Lou speaking communities.” Amb. Otunnu told journalists, Prof. Nyong’O and leadership will contribute meaningfully to the ongoing heritage revival initiatives in Central Lou as Prof. Ogot called Acholi the central Lou.

Journalists stressed that Prof. Nyong’o and Lou from Kisumu should be taken to other cultural heritages, the likes of Awere hill where Joseph Kony draw his spiritual power, Aruu fall, Guru-guru hill, renounced Lamogi Guru-guru cave where Lamogi rise rebellion, Lamogi 1911 rebellion occurred.

Amb. Olara Otunnu, mooted timeline visits of Prof. Nyong’o, he will address all Acholi Chiefs, traditional leaders, meet youths, have cultural guro. Local cultural institutions in Acholi have recently intensified activities aimed at documenting traditions, strengthening clan leadership structures, and promoting cultural education among youth.

The officials from Puranga chiefdom said preparations for “Nyono Tong Gweno.” As rolled to welcome brothers and sisters rejoining homage as demanded by Acholi cultural norms to remove bad spirit as were occurred I wang Kac, Lou main gate way should be performed for Prof. Nyong’o arrival, with several delegations from Acholi cultural institutions expected to participate in the event.

The upcoming visit marks 70 years since Jaramogi Odinga Oginga visited Uganda in 1958 with the young former Kenya Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odonga, the young one. Jaramogi Odinga Oginga toured Eastern Uganda, Central and part of Western Uganda Bunyoro kingdom, Lango and Teso Sub Region. This will mark a notable moment in regional cultural diplomacy and anticipated to draw leaders, scholars and communities’ representatives from across Northern Uganda.

Amb. Olara Otunnu, remarked that Gulu Town was a center for the Lou, before the advent of the British and the aftermath in 1950 70 Acholi Sub Region was the highest learned community. But, the power of education shifted to Kisumu City, because of the long political turmoil and the civil strife Acholi community suffered.

“My worry is going to be addressed, because a nation, or community whose language is being written, spoken on a national Television is a dead ethnic grouping. In every hotel you find an Acholi girl ordering Kwon Kali, while saying “Kalo”. You hear two people walking on streets saying: “Sissy” meaning what in Luganda. Acholi is a dangerous species.

Prof. Nyong’o studied from Makerere University in the late 1960-72, where he was a Guild President, one to most renounced Lou Guild President