Acholi elders have warned that the youth who demonstrated with a coffin on their shoulders recently will soon start to develop swollen bodies for what they described as an abominable act they participated in.
The elders claim that anyone who mocks the death of a person who is still alive will not be spared by the gods because of acting like a wizard.
The warning comes on the back drop of a recent demonstration staged by youth in Gulu who claim to be members of National Resistance Movement (NRM) party and marched with a coffin on the shoulders through the town.
Mr John Bosco Owiny, 60, a resident of Laminodwany, Omoro County in Gulu district says, “Playing with any king of burial materials is against the cultural values of Acholi as a tribe and anyone who goes against it will be struck with a swollen body and eventual death.”
Owiny claims that the first thing that the gods will send as a sign of displeasure is diarrhea.
He noted that the running stomach will act as a warning to those who disrespect the gods.
Another elder, Ongom Anthony, 80, asked the youth to procure a goat so that the gods do not strike them with misfortune.
Ongom says the young people did not put into consideration the repercussions of their act but they can wad off the retribution if they abide by cultural beliefs.
Early this month, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party officials in Gulu cautioned its youth wing against resorting to an extreme form of demonstration against former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi’s who declared his intention to run as a Presidential candidate in the 2016 general elections..
Despite the heavy criticisms, Mr Justus Tugume, the lead Mobilizer for the demonstration by NRM youth says he has no regrets over his action to take to the streets over Mbabazi intention to run against President Yoweri Museveni in next year’s general elections.
