Angelo Pati Alia has been enthroned as the new paramount chief of the Lugbara Kari cultural institution, becoming the fourth Agofe despite opposition from a rival faction that had called for the ceremony to be stopped.
The enthronement involved traditional rituals and the handover of cultural instruments to Pati Alia, who is expected to serve a five-year term. His appointment is expected to be followed by official gazettement and swearing-in.
The ceremony was attended by George Atim, the secretary-general of the Uganda Kings and Cultural Leaders Forum, who described the enthronement as the beginning of Pati Alia’s tenure as Agofe IV.
“Today, you have all witnessed Agofe IV taking the seat of the Lugbara Kari. Last week, the Omulama of Tooro was also enthroned in a similar manner,” Atim said.
The ceremony followed a public dispute within the Lugbara Kari cultural institution, with a rival faction led by Manase Yuma Amuku opposing Pati Alia’s enthronement and questioning the legitimacy of the process through which he was selected.
Patrick Acidri, an elder associated with the rival faction, accused younger politicians of interfering in the cultural institution’s affairs.
“The young politicians have decided to turn the cultural institution on its head instead of allowing the government to do the right thing,” Acidri said.
He also questioned the authority of those who selected Pati Alia as paramount chief.
“Which elders sat on that council to say that this man should be Agofe?” he asked while addressing elders gathered under Amuku’s leadership.
Despite the protests, the enthronement proceeded, culminating in Pati Alia’s installation as the fourth Agofe of the Lugbara Kari.
Ismail Tuku, the prime minister of the Lugbara Kari cultural institution, said the institution had obtained clearance from the courts, paving the way for the ceremony.
“He is now the Agofe of the Lugbara people. What we are left with is the official swearing-in,” Tuku said after the ceremony.
Among the dignitaries who attended were Tom Aliti, the Maracha County Member of Parliament, and Emmanuel Wani, the Maracha District chairperson.
Judi Erongot of the United Nations Population Fund also addressed the gathering and pledged to partner with the Lugbara Kari cultural institution.
In his first speech as Agofe, Pati Alia called for unity among the Lugbara, urging members of the community to avoid accusations against one another.
“In the Lugbara culture, you don’t accuse your brother because that is bad luck,” he said.
Pati Alia, who hails from Maracha, succeeds Jason Avutia, from Vurra, who served from 1986 to 2023.
The institution’s historical account identifies Mariko Boroa, from Terego, as the second Agofe, serving from 1962 to 1967, while Jalwere Jalasiga, described as an Alur, was the first and served from 1922 to 1962.
The next steps in Pati Alia’s installation are expected to be his gazettement and subsequent official swearing-in.
