By Steven Enatu
KABEREMAIDO
A team of 15 Council of Elders led by John Sylvester Edyangu on 24th June 2022 concluded a two days verification exercise for the candidates who have picked forms expressing interest for the position of a paramount chief, Won Atekerin -Papa me Kumam.
The committee spearheading the breakaway of the Kumam speaking community from Iteso Cultural Union [TCU], issued a new election road map for electing their cultural leader, “Won Ateker Papa me Kumam’ ’after three failed consecutive attempts in recent years. This time the election of Won Ateker Papa me Kumam is to take place on July 7, 2022.
Elections first failed on June 5, 2021, July 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, respectively over legal challenges, which the committee spearheading the election process did not address then.
The Chairperson Electoral Commission Kumam Cultural Heritage, Charles Ekemu Ekwamu said that the council of elders on the 23rd June visited the home of candidates to scrutinize, vet and assess their home settings, their interaction with the community and leadership capabilities among others as per the constitutional guidelines.
“This process is to verify that the candidates have well established village homes that can welcome visitors if elected and also to ascertain whether it’s true that he is of that area and origin,” he stressed.
According to Ekemu Ekwamu, five candidates had picked the forms and they are Joseph Amuli Chairperson of Igoria clan Kaberamaido, Egunyu George Michael, “won Ebuku” Ikarwok-Abal from Soroti, Robert Ewangu from Kalaki Atek-Asili Clan, Rafael Otaya from Ikarwok- Akisim Soroti and Egweu George William from Ikarwok Alametori in Kaberamaido.
However Joseph Amuli did not return the form leaving the battle to only four candidates who have returned the forms of expression.
Two of the four candidates come from Soroti and they are George Michael Egunyu, a retired teacher, former mayor Soroti Municipality and the two term local council five chairperson Soroti District who contested as City Mayor in 2021 but lost to the FDC’s Joshua Edogu and Rafael Otaya a retired tutor of Soroti Core PTC.
Meanwhile the other two come from Kaberamaido and Kalaki respectively and they are George William Egweu a retired member of the District Service Commission Kaberamaido District and Robert Ewangu a businessman based in Soroti city.
The Kumam Cultural Heritage constitution allows an adult from 18 years above to contest as long as he is a Kumam by birth having a minimum of ‘O’level Education, a well-established home in the village and not an active politician.
Ekwamu said that the council of elders visit homes of the candidates to assess and affirm that they have well established homes in the village, true origin of being a Kumam by birth.
On Friday June 2022, the council of elders were finalizing their home visits to candidates with one candidate from Soroti.
“It’s actually verifying the details of what they put for us while filling the forms. It’s the council of elders now to return the names of those they deem fit on the 30th of this month to contest for the election of Won Atekerin papa Me Kumam” he said.
He said later the Electoral commissions will also verify the supporting documents of each candidate like his background of work and health status.
“This is done to examine the candidates worth being elected as the leader not electing one and very soon they say sorry, he is not with us” he narrated.
The Kumam cultural heritage is set to go for polls on July 7, 2022.
