FROM THE ARCHIVES: The Bernard Onyango Academic Excellence (ACE) awards 2014
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Friday, 27 September 2024
Rest in Peace Ona
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| Ever smiling Onapito (right) and wife Cathy at a TC Fundraising dinner in Kampala in June |
ONAPITO Ekomoloit was my OB and fellow veteran journalist. I got in touch with him early on September 1, 2024, confident that since he was Nile Breweries Limited's Board Chairman, I would secure a beer sponsorship for an upcoming Family fun day out. The Fun day is being organized by my sub-Parish St Angela Bugema, part of Lweza Parish, to raise funds to complete our local church.(FUN DAY Dec 8)
Ona responded promptly and provided me with a contact at Nile Breweries to send my proposal.
When I nudged him again on September 7 to inquire about progress, Ona revealed that he was ill and out of office. Board chairmen are usually overwhelmed by requests for financial help, so I wondered if he might be dodging me. Still, I wished him a speedy recovery.
Then, on September 9, two days after I nudged him again, he responded with an emoji of women dancing 💃💃, which I thought was a sign that his health was improving. I even joked about the need for him to go to the gym, so that he can compete in the 'wife carrying competition' on the family fun day scheduled for December 8.
It now turns out his health was at a worse stage than we all knew. He did not improve. It is sad there was no indication anything was out of control.
I now see he last read his messages yesterday Thursday about 15 hours Uganda time. SAD! He was alive 24 hours ago, and is now gone. LIFE!
On Friday, I noticed that, "suspicious" messages started pouring in on WhatsApp. Typically, that is an indicator that something out of the ordinary has happened, but you may not know who or what, unless you read the message.
So for about one hour I avoided reading WhatsApp messages.
When I finally dared to peep into one, it read, “Ona is gone!” Ona dead? Ona who was so full of life only three months back? Oh dear!!
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At St. Peter's College Tororo, also known as TC, Ona joined in 1987 in S5, a class behind me. I sat A levels (LEG) in March 1988, making it easily to Makerere University with a B in Literature. The following year, Ona hammered the papers with AAC in HEL and after a long debate between taking Law and Mass Comm (journalism), Onapito went for what he saw as his calling. He writes in detail about this in his book "Tears & Triumph".
He was at one point asked, "Do you have to go to university to become a journalist?" by a family friend trying to convince him out of doing Mass Communications (aka journalism) at Makerere.
He went on to become one of the greatest journalists of our time. His impact in the media industry is undeniable – a prolific writer; a journalism lecturer at Makerere University; a successful presidential press secretary plus a highly accomplished corporate affairs professional.
Ona and I were among the more active members of SPECTOBA, the old Boys association of St Peter's Tororo college. He was the de-facto number two to Wilbrod Owor (former Guild President Makerere) for a while.
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| Ona headed the Bernard Onyango Academic Excellence Awards |
Ona frequently related to me how he and I sparked the start of the well-known Bernard Onyango Academic Excellence Awards in about the year 2013.
There had been a long discussion on the proposal, and after a protracted back-and-forth by the Old Boys, the crunch time came to show "seriousness". There was a long silence until I dared put the first million into the fund to start the fundraising to enable the organization of the first awards.
Ona followed and put in the second million, and thereafter, many others joined in. He did end up rightly as chair of the BOACE awards committee. (click to read a copy of the 2014 awards booklet)
Last year at the TC Football League at Nakawa, he gave me an autographed copy of his book, “Tears and Triumph” and he wrote, "LJ, thank you for your motivational works of journalism." He indicated that a 2nd edition or follow up book was coming in which he would narrate the Bernard Onyango awards history.
In February I was also among the lucky few who attended his lovely wedding to Cathy (a Makerere Mass Com contemporary of my wife Nnalongo Lydia Mirembe), at the shores of the lake. I recall Ona singing, and showing love like never before.
Ona handled nearly everyone who interacted with him with much respect and humility. Reminds me in many ways of my uncle, Professor Charles Lwanga Olweny, first director of the Uganda Cancer Institute from 1972 until 1982. Before Ona, Olweny, also a TC Ob, trail blazed as one of the first Ugandan Board chairs of not only NBL, but also UBL, in the 70s.
Ona, like uncle, would often be frank, masking seriousness with a smile.
ONAPITO was a good human. He will be laid to rest on Saturday November 30 in Asalatap. May God Almighty bless his soul, and LET HIM REST IN PEACE. May God give peace to his family too. Bye Bye.
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| 'Our girls' Tororo Girls crew at a TC fundraiser. Ona's Cathy (is 3rd right) |
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LINK TO RELATED STORIES (click on them to read)
🔴 HARRY SAGARA on Ona
🔴 Chief Justice Owiny Dollo kick-starts Tororo College OBs sh3.1 billion drive
🔴 Keynote address May 30th 2014 at Bernard Onyango Memorial
VIDEO: NILE BREWERIES TRIBUTE TO RETIRING ONA
ONAPITO STANDS TALL AS NYANGOLIANS INVADE TG EVENT
Friday, 20 September 2024
Bugema Sub Parish plans December 8 fete
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| The incomplete St Angela Bugema sub-parish church |
- Put this in your DIARY >>> Holiday and Pre-Christmas event December 8 at school field opposite Wankulukuku stadium
- Fun events will include tug of war, car reverse parking, golf and even a wife-carrying competition!
- Tshirts, caps, Toys on sale. Sh5k extra to build church
- This is a fundraising event. Proceeds will go to complete building the St Angela Sub Parish, Lweza church and other liturgical projects
Taking a completely new approach to raising funds for building of a church, St Mugagga Basic Christian Community BCC (Kabondo) of St Angela Bugema sub-parish in Lweza, has decided that Christians can have fun, while doing God's work.
Ssabakristu Vicent Kirumira recently launched a two month organisation campaign aimed to raising a record sh50milion in a single day, at December's fundraiser dubbed FAMILY FUN DAY OUT 2024. He also launched the Kabondo's youtube channel, that will feed the sub-parish website.
"Our focus will move away from only looking internally for resources, and cast our net wide - across the different parishes, dioceses, country and indeed the world," he said.
The new innovative strategy includes getting sponsors to pay for the December 8 organization budget. The sponsors get an offer to be publicized on the day's poster and to have a stall at the event that will be held at Kitebi Primary School ground - opposite Wankulukuku stadium.
So far, the organizers have attracted support from Pepsi, Mantopal Schools, FenRich Consults, The Independent and The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).
While the event is free for adults, they will be expected to be accompanied by at least one child and to buy a T-shirt. A ticket for a child, which includes a meal and access to multiple fan events, costs sh30,000 only.
MOBILE MONEY will be the key payment channel. There will also be a payment option for those in the diaspora.
To buy your ticket: Pay 30,000 to +256 772 434385 REASON: TICKET...and your name
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THOSE IN DIASPORA CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE DAY BY PAYING HERE >>>> Payment platform
LOOK AT THE SUB-PARISH WEBSITE >>> https://saintangellabugema.wordpress.com/
LOOK AT THEIR MUGAGGA BBC YOUTUBE CHANNEL>>>>
- Click image below for a better view
Thursday, 19 September 2024
Will "Tororo Issues" decide the election results in West and East Budama come 2026?
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| Current and former MPs from Tororo |
BELOW are the results of the last election ahead of what is likely to be contentious elections 2026, with the future of Tororo at stake. SOURCE VISIBLE POLLS.ORG (click to read)
🔴 I was on the road and off air 6 hours yesterday & when I logged online, I found that H.E President Museveni was in Tororo saying many things and yet most CONSEQUENTIAL JAP FORUMs were silent like nothing happened. The Jopadhola have given up on 'Tororo issues' it seems pic.twitter.com/nRfB2uUSMP
— Louis Jadwong (@Jadwong) September 14, 2024
Tororo, Uganda | Remarks by President Yoweri Museveni last week on what was an ordinary visit, could turn out to be decisive in the 2026 elections in the mineral-rich district.
President Yoweri Museveni, among other things, admonished 'Badaama' and Iteso, alleging that each do not want the other to speak their language.
He had a point, but by dwelling on the least of the worries of the residents of Tororo, he reignited fears that the President might not be sensitive enough to matters that have stagnated Tororo's development politically and economically for two decades.
"The issue of friction between the Iteso and Badaama is puzzling. Why would a Mudaama have a problem with an Iteso speaking his own dialect and vice versa?" asked Museveni.
The quest for districts and a city status have divided residents of Tororo and manifested itself in many areas of the lives of the residents.
Key to the conflict is demand by residents of Tororo county for a separate district, alleging marginalization by the Jopadhola ethnicity group.
However, a look at the district chairs over the past 30 years shows leaders have previously come from Busia, Bunyole, Bugwere, even an Atesot. This would contradict the allegation of Jopadhola marginalising others.
There is is also no empirical evidence that one group prevents the other from speaking their language. "This is a figment of the creation of some self- seekers, mostly politicians who ride on ethnicity to seek votes," an expert on Tororo matters said.
"What is the situation like in present day Tororo District. Look at population of the various peoples in Tororo District. Naturally the larger the number, the higher the amount of influence in matters but this should not be to the prejudice of the peoples with lesser numbers! "
Okoth Nyalulu, a long time former RDC and now on the Council of Elders of The Adhola Cultural Institution (TACI) weighed in by saying, "Many people, and without fear of contradiction, even the President, have not understood what is contentious in the 'Tororo question'. The question is not a mere location of the Municipality or Jopadhola against Iteso per se."
"It is a question of Rights. Through the history of migration, the Jopadhola have Heritage and Aboriginal Rights over the whole Tororo. Tororo was acquired and secured through pouring blood by our ancestors, and it became a Heritage for the Jopadhola," Nyalulu explained to LJ Files.
On the quest for a city, Nyalulu remarked, "Is there a demand for a City in Tororo and the answer is Yes. Tororo Municipality, and even the Town before it was the third most industrialized in Uganda and it is a gate way to Uganda by road and potentially by air," elder Nyalulu remarked recently."
He went to add that "Tororo Municipality was one of the eleven Municipalities that implemented the program of Uganda Support for the Municipal Infrastructure Development, (USMID). All the other ten have been elevated to City status except Tororo."
As the debate raged in the past week on social media, Kampala lawyer Charles Owor concluded that, "Badaama or Jopadhola, whatever you call us... Let us pursue how best to exploit the resources for everyone's benefit, whether you arrived and settled in yesterday or were there a long time ago! We share a common destiny and strive to pursue common goals!"
The Deputy Prime Minster (Deputy Jago) of TACI, Jag Adrian Owor jumped into the debate, worried that there is a misunderstanding about the issues in Tororo.
"I find the use of Teso in many comments about Tororo disturbing. Whereas there are Iteso living in Tororo district there is no Teso in Tororo. People should make a distinction between Iteso (the people) and Teso (a subregion which starts from Bukedea district to Katakwi)."
The issue of Tororo county taking over the historical headquarters of the Jopadhola plus the Tororo Rock has created unease for decades. In 2019, current Uganda Defence Minister Oboth Oboth raised it to a religious level, saying Tororo town was 'our Jerusalem' in parliament in 2019.
A team had earlier been sent to London to try resolve the impasse, by looking at old maps, but it came to naught.
Oboth argued in parliament that, "what took us to London archives was not about boundaries but the historicity of ethnic settlements in Tororo. The boundary dispute is between who and who? East Budaama and West Budaama, Jopadhola and Iteso live together. Both sides are mixed through inter-marriages."
History Prof Pontian Okoth was more categorical.
"There is no fight between the Iteso and Japs, they have existed with each other for a long time and now genetically entangled, so the fighting was brought to divert the thinking. The Iteso in Tororo never came from Soroti but instead from Kenya as you can see in the map and have never had issues with the Japs."
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Status of
Tororo district Constituencies Ahead of 2026
decider! Tororo issues Data compiled
by Louis Jadwong Polls 2026 Ltd (✳source
VISIBLE POLLS.org) |
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NAME |
INCUMBENT |
Others |
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Tororo
Municipality Constituency |
Apollo Yeri Ofwono National Resistance Movement ✳
5,169 votes |
Okware Edward ✳
4,564 votes Raganyi Ibrahim Yusuf ✳
1,174 votes Olweny Charles ✳1,034
votes Emojong Deogratius ✳
686 votes Ayeyo Silvanus ✳
182 votes Othieno Romanus ✳
78 votes Ochwo Godfrey ✳
67 votes Kaikede Olowo John Stephen ✳
36 votes |
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West
Budama Central Constituency |
Oboth Marksons Jacob National Resistance Movement Candidate (MP). ✳ 12,084
votes |
Okoth Geoffrey Oita ✳7,610
Oturo Jesse Eridad ✳
468 vote Kirya Moses Isiko ✳
376 votes Onno Zachariah ✳
167 votes Oluka John Paul ✳
103 votes Laaro Peter Ayeka ✳
50 votes Oketch Ojiek Lazzarus ✳
0 votes |
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West
Budama South Constituency |
Otiam Emmanuel Otaala National Resistance Movement ✳
13,648 votes |
Owor Franklin ✳
4,603 votes Akika Emmanuel Othieno ✳
3,527 votes Katandi Joseph ✳
739 votes Ongawi Kennedy ✳
386 votes Oguti Albert Mathias ✳
75 votes |
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West
Budama North Constituency |
Ochai Maximus National Resistance Movement ✳10,981
votes |
Othieno Okoth Richard ✳
9,856 Owori John Paul ✳1,584
votes Okello Peter Jabweli ✳
784 votes Alira David Pechokisika Opii ✳278
votes Akichere Gloria Oburu ✳
175 votes Okongo Leo ✳
85 votes Aluki George ✳
24 votes and lost the election |
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West
Budama North East Constituency |
Odoi Oywelowo Fox National Resistance Movement ✳
11,398 |
Ogandi Denis Peter ✳ 7,171 votes Nyero Vincent ✳ 1,572 votes Osinde Owor Okongo Jimmy ✳
1,051 votes Kayala Micky ✳
176 votes Osinde Benard ✳ 100 votes |
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Tororo
North Constituency |
Ekanya Geofrey Forum for Democratic Change ✳ 9,674 votes |
Nyakecho Annet ✳
9,563 votes Othieno Godfrey ✳
5,834 votes Ekileut James Peter ✳
201 votes Obbo Johnson Independent ✳131
votes Otabong Charles Jonjo ✳
122 votes Kalani Isaac ✳51
votes |
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Tororo
women MP position |
Achieng Sarah Opendi Candidate for Women Representative
(MP) - Tororo National Resistance Movement
candidate. ✳
76,662 votes |
Ayo Jancita Independent ✳
69,011 votes Abbo Rose Mary Owere ✳
7,398 Ojaka Diana ✳
2,991 votes Abwin Sarah Emojong ✳
1,290 votes |
Clamor for district
" I appeal to the good sense of every citizen of Tororo specifically and Uganda in general to emerge from this narrow, sectarian and selfishly-motivated politicking. Has the creation of 78 new districts since 1995 really improved service-delivery at the local government level?," Onyango argued in a 2017 presentation.
Expert insist that if the main contention is not so much as the creation of these would be ethnic based district, but the location of Tororo Municipality; then against the precedent mentioned by Prof. Oloka Onyango, elevate it to city status and then no one has ethnically based claim to it and it becomes another district with no ethnic connotation. Lately, even smaller towns have become cities!
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| A map of West and East Budama that originally formed Tororo district |
Bukedi District was a subdivision of the Eastern Province of the Uganda Protectorate, with headquarters in Mbale. In the early 1920s Bukedi was divided into the Budama, Bugisu and Bugwere districts.
In all these arrangements, Bugwere and Bugisu were separated again, and Bugwere was again combined with Budama to create Bukedi District. The district contained the counties of Pallisa, Budaka-Bugwere, Bunyole, West Budama, Tororo, and Samia-Bugwe.
All these have in the 80s and 90s broken off, leaving a shell of Tororo.
Tororo historically comprised West and Eastern Budama, according the Prof Pontian Okoth who has written a book on the history of Padhola from 1500.
According to Prof Okoth, at some point, the colonial state was thrown into confusion by the state of disunity among Jopadhola clans and between the Jopadhola and the Iteso community based in Tororo.
The Nyapolo Ogule clan which was the dominant clan and predominantly catholic wanted to rule Padhola. This could not be allowed by the other clans, most of which were Protestants. They had many of their children who had obtained formal education, they also had the support of the colonial state.
The Iteso wanted a special status because of their numbers that had arrived from Kenya .
The Jopadhola could not allow this kind of development noting Budama was their land.
Jopadhola elders always argued that this would result in ethnically based administrative units which would fail to take cognizance of the history and aboriginal claims of the Japs.
The colonial state had nevertheless decided in 1938, to divide Budama County into East and West making two County headquarter for easy administration.
West Budama remained with the original headquarter at Kisoko while East Budama had its headquarter at Mukuju. Both headquarters were equidistant (6 miles) from the Main Post office at Tororo. Both religions and inter-clan conflicts were serious problems in Padhola.
Tororo, being a key railway and road link to Kenya and the rest of the country, was still the third most powerful industrial town in Uganda by the time NRM came to power in 1986.
The rest of the people in Tororo preferred that instead of Tororo being part of the new district being demanded for, it becomes a city to serve all.
Kwar Adhola's stand
Kwar Adhola Moses Stephen Owor, 98, is the King and cultural head of the Jopadhola. He has been consistent on stating that Tororo welcomes visitors for the sake of harmony. Indeed Tororo was at one time referred to as the "United Nations of Uganda" because of many tribes living peacefully together.
Kwara has previously had face to face discussions with both the late Emorimor Papa Osubani and the current one Emoloit and gave them the message; unity of purpose, even with diversity in cultures.
That has been his stand even in meetings with President Yoweri Museveni, where he has actually stated that the Jopadhola have no problem being to referred to, as they rightly should, as Badaama.That was the source of the names West Budama and East Budama.
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| Deputy Katikkiro of Buganda Ssendaula (left) delivers a message from The Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Mutebi to King of the Jopadhola, the Kwar Adhola Moses Owor. The Adhola Kingdom Prime Minister Josel Obbo is middle. This was at the Adha Adhola funeral rites in Tororo in 2017 |
He explained that the name Wadama originated from a mis presentation of the word "widoma" in Dhopadhola meaning you will see or you have seen my strength or might. When enemies heard the Jopadhola warriors chanting this they thought that was the name of the people fighting them. Hence Wadama instead of widoma.
However Prof Pontian Okoth is not having any of it.
"There is no need for unnecessary confusion. What is wrong with calling ourselves Jopadhola? We should always remember that we are descendants of Adhola. That is the original history 'widoma' 'wadama' ' Badama',etc,true but these were later concoctions. Let us, therefore, return to our roots, I suggest, without insinuating that the debate ends."
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An abridged history of Padhola, 1500 - 1999
https://www.independent.co.ug/an-abridged-history-of-padhola-1500-1999/
Jopadhola emboldened by Luo elders’ visit, says Adhola king
https://www.independent.co.ug/jopadhola-emboldened-by-luo-elders-visit-says-adhola-king/
Colonial boundaries no solution to Tororo District split controversy
https://www.independent.co.ug/colonial-boundaries-no-solution-tororo-district-split-controversy/
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