By Agency
An urgent meeting of all chiefs within the Acholi sub-region, convened by the Paramount Chief of Acholi, David Onen Acana II, was on Tuesday held at Ker Kwaro Acholi in Gulu city, amidst an ongoing power struggle within the Acholi Cultural Institution.
This call comes shortly after a rival faction of chiefs announced their own council of chiefs meeting in Kitgum Municipality, intending to elect a new Paramount Chief of Acholi on June 14.
Led by interim chairperson Richard Santo Apire, the rival faction parted ways with Acana’s leadership in June last year, citing allegations of financial mismanagement, failure to draft a constitution, and attempts to sell off properties belonging to the Acholi Cultural Institution.
With the election just days away, Rwot Acana invited all chiefs from the 58 chiefdoms and their prime ministers for a meeting to discuss important issues regarding the cultural institution.
Okello Okuna, spokesperson for the Acholi Cultural Institution, explained that while the Council of Chiefs meets quarterly, this agenda will include confirming if some chiefs had indeed signed a purported constitution and if they support the upcoming election.
A copy of the constitution drafted by the rival faction, seen by Mega Fm, has been gazetted and submitted to the Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB), showing at least 39 chiefs’ signatures.
