In this second installment of a series that explores succession in Patiko, retired civil servant Paul R Kilama (LLB London), citing from various resources in his research work, looks at Samuel Baker’s second entry in Acholi, war with the Banyoro, Arab slave dealers, and the construction Fort Patiko.  On 6th March 1872 Baker again re-entered Acholiland […]

      By Paul R Kilama (LLB London) In  the first of a series intended to coincide with about the same time as the installation of the new Rwot of Patiko Chiefdom, Rwot Collins Atiko Mutto 2nd, who succeeds his predecessor the late Rwot Jerimiah Bongojane who died in March, 2017,  Paul R Kilama […]

  By Emar Okanokodi In late 2016 a meeting was held in a boardroom of the office of the Gulu Residence District Commissioner (RDC) chaired by the RDC himself, Okot Santos Lapolo. In attendance were the District Police Commander, religious, cultural and political leaders and musicians. In mid-2016, a renowned comedian and singer in Acholi […]

  What about the UPDF? Is a question that officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have been asked endless times during outreaches in northern Uganda. In response, ICC officials have for years had a near- standard response: We don’t have evidence to warrant issuing arrests warrants for elements within the UPDF. To many in northern […]

Double- think, wrote the English writer George Orwell in his classic ‘‘1984’’, is to ‘‘to know not to know, to hold two simultaneous opinion …knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them’’. Kitgum Municipality Member of Parliament Beatrice Anywar stunningly voted for the removal of article 102(b) from the constitution to allow […]

David Onen Acana II arrived at the grounds of the cultural festival in style, atop a glittering  4X4, decked in royal regalia and looked every inch a royal. The well attended festival took place from Dec 14- Dec 16 at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu town. It was an eats, dance and fun affair. President Museveni […]

From being ‘‘Chief Viewer’’ of the eclipse to ‘‘Chief Mourner’’ and many more, it is not madness if one asserts that Uganda has been reduced to having only one Chief Guest. Events organisers around the country worth the ink used to write their names know this fact—that President Museveni’s is Uganda’s only chief guest. How a […]

On Saturday I met a friend- Awel Uwihanganye whose NGO (CEED) is at the centre of organising the Gulu Marathon. Awel is very passionate about events in northern Uganda and has worked with many nonprofits in the region. After exchanging pleasantries, the first issue that popped up in our conversation was whether I will be […]

What would an ununiformed, unarmed district police commander be doing alone in a deserted part of Gulu town in the wee hours of a Wednesday  morning? That is  the question many in Gulu are asking after Joseph Ayiki, the acting Gulu district police commander was shot in the leg by a security guard at TAK […]

  By Ruth Atim “I was a very violent man who would drink a lot and batter his wife,” confesses Michael Ali, 38, from Coo-pee village about 8kms out of Gulu town. Mr Ali, is now considered a ‘‘model Man’’ after having undergone training by Gulu Women Economic Development and Globalization (GWED- G), a Gulu-based NGO […]