 |
| Swearinng in of first TACI cabinet |
By Mark Olweny-Omalla
From the pre-colonial days; Jopadhola were clustered communities and clans headed by clan leaders. There were more or less uniform pattern of value, norms, customs and traditions across the board.
Each community, clan or family had well-established all embracing cultural and social norms that regulated the behaviour character and conduct of everyone. Family heads, elders, neighbours and/or clan leaders applied their socially accepted norms to ensure compliancy. Disciplinary measures, sanctions, etc. were regularly taken against defaulter by the community or clan leaders/council for any offense committed as well as rewarding any bravery or courage exhibited by anyone.
The Jopadhola voluntarily took or accepted communal responsibility to sustain those value, custom, traditions, cultural aspirations and therefore communally and collectively rejected deviant behaviour character and conduct not appropriate. Overseeing all this, was a the head of community or clan.
However the following unfolding phenomena negatively influenced or diluted the long traditions, customs and culture;
a. The coming of Christian Missionaries doctrines; The introduction of Anglican faith in 1877 and Roman Catholic faith in 1879 and in addition to Islam which had been introduced earlier in 1844, which later spread to Padhola around the 1918s divided the converts along those religious denominations. The religion coverts engaged in vigorous crusade to win fellowship for themselves gradually distorting the underlying values of unity, tolerance, generosity, peaceful coexistence, harmony, respect which the Jopadhola had enjoyed over a long period of time. Members of the same community, clan or family started identifying themselves along different religion. The ultimate result was that even brothers who belonged to different religious sect could not share an idea on social problems or even food. A child from a catholic family would have to travel several miles away passing an Anglican school to study in a catholic school and vice-versa is very true.
b. Colourization and spread of Buganda Administration; In 1894, Buganda was proclaimed a British Protectorate and in the years that followed other ethnic committees, Jopadhola inclusive were herded together through military conquest and/or administrative coercion, annexation in colonial government structure to form Uganda despite difference in languages, culture, social value and set up.
c. The pre-independence political parts were started and sustained along religious sects for instance, the democratic party (DP) generally believed to be predominantly for Catholics while the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) were for Anglicans. Consequently and empirically, the members of different political and religious groups in Padhodla became hostile to one another for example a DP supporter could not be entertained in the house of a UPC supporter even when they were brothers or blood relatives.
d. The Lakwena civil war and Force Obote Back Again (FOBA) pitted Jopadhola against each other because of either support or no support for those rebellions after the advent of NRM administration in 1986.
e. The Bukedi Tax grievience rebellion of 1960 which pitted the colonial chiefs against the peasant class when properties of the then chief and their stooges were destroyed.
Due to these circumstances and many other not mentioned, several leaders sought ways of invigorating meaningful unity cultivate peace and create harmony and development within Padhola.
An opportunity emerged when the 1995 constitution, Article 246, provided for the formation and establishment of institution of cultural and traditional leadership
The idea of an umbrella Cultural Institution was floated.
Roger Jassa Kwero (RIP) who was a Clan Leader of Loli at that time, mooted the idea which he wanted to share with other clan leaders.
On Saturday 17th August 1996, he convened a meeting of willing Clan Leaders at his home at Nyasigala in Mulanda Sub-county. This first meeting that was attended by 39 Clan Leaders, unanimously nominated him as the Interim Leader and the participants universally resolved to establish Adhola Cultural Institution (ACI) which was later modified to be TIENG ADHOLA CULTURAL INSTITUTION.
It is sufficient to say that he triumphed mainly with support of Yolam Obbo Pegele and many of us who were his peers.
Consultation meetings followed at Mahanga Secondary School at Nagongera, Shimon Teachers’ Training College in Kampala, while smaller groups of Organising Committee members frequently met at the Crested Towers Restaurant and Tororo, which later culminated into a Grand Meeting of representatives of 52 clans, when the reigning Kwar Adhola, Moses Stephen Owor was elected.
On that historical day, I attended that meeting as Koch Clan Leader as well as a representative of Jopadhola working and living in Kampala.
During the meeting, I conveyed one important message from Kampala - urged the delegates to select the best suited and not simple elect any aspiring candidate.
In Dhopadhola, I said, Wangini rume, wayeri wini, wakiri wa dimi. I explained the true meaning of Yero as opposed to Dimo.
It emerged that there were three aspiring candidates Mr. Rogers Jassa Kwero, Mr. Moses Stephen Owor and Mr. Owor Kaburu.
The late Akisofer Ogolla requested me to play the role of Shuttle Diplomat, to consult and harmonise with supporters of each candidate in order to thwart the divisive and sectarian rivalry and cool tempers associated with elections. I indeed moved from camp to camp consulting with all in order to generate consensus on the most suitable candidate.
When we entered the Council Hall again, there were whispers of consensus, unanimous agreement to have only one candidate nominated and I communicated my findings to Akisoferi Ogolla (RIP), the Clan Leader of Kijwala wod’Akwoyo, He expressed his pleasure and nominated Mr. Moses Stephen Owor, the Bendo Clan Leader.
He was seconded by Zachar Ochieng Odoi (RIP). Immediately, Mr. Yolamu Obbo Pegele, Ddee Clan Leader, rose up and proposed that Nominations be closed and there was unanimous applause that marked the election of Kwar Adhola Moses Stephen Owor who has wisely, successfully and steadily championed Unity, Peace and Development that Padhola is experiencing to date.
From August 1996 to August 1999, Rogers Jassa Kwero (RIP) distinguished himself as an assertive Jago/Prime Minister of Tieng Adhola Cultural Institution.
Diplomacy, hard work and integrity were the attributes of Jassa Kwero, an example of a Japadhola who does not use power as a village tool for domination and self-aggrandisement.
Jassa Kwero is one of the unsung heroes of Padhola who deserves a place in our hearts for generations to come.
Jassa Kwero, the First Jago/Prime Minster was a fine leader and light that Padhola continues to remember.
*****
Mark Olweny Omalla is 2nd Deputy Jago and Koch Clan Leader) & a Rogers Jassa Kwero’s Peer and comrade.
This article was written to mark the 25th Coronation anniversary of Kwar Adhola
No comments:
Post a Comment