Rival Lugbara Kari members seek to block Angelo Pati’s swearing-in

ARUA CITY – Members of the rival Lugbara Cultural Institution affiliated with Manase Yuma Amuku have vowed to block the planned swearing-in of Angelo Pati Alia as the new Agofe (Paramount Chief) of the Lugbara people.

This follows a letter written by Ismail Tuku, the contested Lugbara Kari Prime Minister, inviting the public to witness the swearing-in of Pati as the fourth Agofe of Lugbara Kari.

According to Tuku, the ceremony is scheduled for Monday, October 12, 2026, at Coco Palm along Mvara Road, starting at 10:00 a.m. The Arua Chief Magistrate is expected to preside over the event.

Upon learning of the planned swearing-in, Elly Ejiku Emo, Prime Minister of the Yuma-led Lugbara Kari administration, petitioned the Resident City Commissioner of Arua, police leadership in West Nile, and the Arua Chief Magistrate, calling for a halt to what he described as the “illegal enthronement” of Mr. Pati Angelo Alia.

“I am writing to you in my official capacity as the legitimate Prime Minister of the Lugbara Kari Cultural Institution under the lawful authority of our Paramount Chief, His Highness Manase Yuma Amuku.

We urgently request your office to halt the planned illegal installation of Mr. Pati Angelo Alia as Agofe scheduled for October 12, 2026, to prevent imminent tribal confusion and bloodshed in Arua City,” Ejiku stated in his petition.

He argued that Pati was neither elected by the Langa (the council of Lugbara elders) as required by the Lugbara Kari Constitution of 2011, nor gazetted.

“Therefore, in accordance with the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders’ Act (2011), we pray that your office immediately issues a formal directive banning any assembly related to the illegal enthronement of Mr. Pati,” Ejiku added.

His letter was followed by a gathering he convened at Onduparaka, attended by a section of elders and youths who sat around a fireplace under the scorching sun on Saturday to reiterate their position.

During the gathering, Philliam Agotre Adriko, Ejiku’s deputy from Maracha District, questioned Pati’s credentials to become Agofe.

He said the Lugbara Kari Constitution of 2011 clearly states that a candidate for Agofe must have completed a minimum of Advanced Level education, a requirement Pati does not meet.

“Our Lugbara Constitution clearly states that the Agofe should have a minimum qualification of Senior Six, and Angelo Pati, whom we are talking about, is a Primary Four leaver. I am from Maracha, I am a graduate, I have a postgraduate degree—how can we allow a P.4 leaver to lead us?” Agotre said.

Agotre further stressed that Pati was neither elected as Agofe nor gazetted for the position as required by the Lugbara Kari Constitution.

Willy Banduni, an elder from Pajulu in Ayivu Division, said they will not allow Pati’s swearing-in to take place because no elders participated in his election, unlike the process through which Yuma was elected on July 13, 2023.

Richard Andama, the former Yumbe Resident District Commissioner who also served as Prime Minister of the Ayivu Chiefdom, said no Agofe can be installed without the involvement of the Ayivu people.

“Now that the people have come up to say we have Yuma Manase in place as the Agofe of Lugbara Kari, his presence must not be taken for granted. Our appeal to the people fronting Pati as Agofe is to calm down, involve the right people, and do the right thing,” Andama said.

He described Tuku’s letter as a total fraud, noting that it was not copied to any government official.

In his letter, however, Tuku maintained that Mr. Pati was selected by the chiefs of Lugbara to head the institution as the legitimate Agofe.

“Following the selection of Mr. Alia Anzelo Pati as the Agofe-IV (Paramount Chief) of Lugbara Kari (Chiefdom) by the Chiefs (OPI) of the Lugbara on June 13, 2025, the Agofe-IV designate will be sworn in by His Worship, the Chief Magistrate – Arua,” Tuku stated.