By Steven Enatu
KABERAMAIDO
Kumam Cultural heritage cabinet has proposed to amend it’s constitution to allow the cultural leader, Won Ateker to be elected once for a lifetime.
This they believe will avoid the disagreement and disunity that arises in the process of electing a new cultural leader often citing example of Lango with Won Nya chi.
In their suggestions, the cabinet proposed that Won Ateker must be elected and reign over his subjects for a life time unless in the face of old age, mental incapacity and illness or death.
This proposal received a warm reception amongst the Kumam cultural heritage cabinet in a closed door meeting that took place in Kaberamaido hotel on Tuesday, 30th April, 2024 chaired by the Prime Minister, Samuel Eyenga.
Raphael Otaya is the current and first elected Won Ateker papa Kumam whose leadership so far has been cherished by his subjects.
According to the current Kumam Cultural heritage constitution, Won Ateker is supposed to rule for 10 years then another election is held. This will now change should the General assembly which is the final decision making organ in the cultural institution headed by George William Omuge approve it.
An insider told this reporter that a proposal to have a cultural home (palace) was also arrived at to be constructed in Kaberamaido since the land has been allocated as opposed to a suggestion among some members to have the palace constructed in Soroti.
“We only arrived at a proposal that the palace be constructed in Kaberamaido and some home for the cultural leader in Soroti and some hall that can host meetings if called for in Soroti,” the source told this reporter
The sources intimated that the cabinet quashed a proposal to have a Kumam Cultural heritage parliament saying it would be duplicating the role of the General assembly.
“Apparently one who comes out of cabinet is taken to the general assembly for final scrutiny so it would be meaningless,” the source stated.
Another amendment that has been proposed is to elect the speaker of the general assembly and also have Miss Kumam absorbed under the cultural institution. All these proposals will be scrutinized by the General assembly.
