Michael Otim, newly appointed Acholi Cultural Institution Prime Minister reacts during a press briefing on May 17 2024 in Gulu City. Photos by Brian Komakech
By Brian Komakech
Gulu: The Acholi Paramount Chief David Onen Acana II has appointed a new Prime Minister to head the Acholi Cultural Institution, nearly 10 months after the position became vacant.
Michael Otim, 53, a former Minister for Rehabilitation at the Acholi Cultural Institution, was unveiled as the fourth Prime Minister on Friday at Ker Kwaro Acholi (the Acholi Cultural Institution) palace in Gulu City.
Okello Okuna, the spokesperson of the Acholi Cultural institution, told journalists in a press briefing that Otim was appointed on April 1st on a three-year-term contract after being approved by the council of chiefs.
“Aware that from last year to the year 2023 July, the former Prime Minister of Acholi was relieved of his duty, as the Prime Minister of the Chiefdom, the vacuum has now been filled with a very reputable Prime Minister,” said Okuna.
Otim replaces Ambrose Olaa, who was sacked by Rwot Acana in July 2023, after the council of chiefs voted for his removal. Olaa served the institution for eight years from December 2015.
Rwot Acana has also appointed two people to deputize the new Prime Minister. They are Walter Jok-kene and Martin Okumu, in charge of Land and Finance, respectively, on a three-year term contract.
Instituting an accountability system
In his maiden speech, Otim revealed the new team has come up with a clear five-year strategic plan to revitalize the operation of the cultural institution.
He said the team will, among other things, focus on strengthening the secretariat to create a robust system for accountability.
Otim noted that they would also review the current policies in place at the Institution and fix the gaps identified.
“We are already in the process of looking through the Ker Kwaro Acholi system and we shall put in place a robust system to ensure proper accountability for everything that we do in Ker Kwaro Acholi,” said Otim.
Otim pledged that his office would conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of financial mismanagement that have plagued the reputation of the cultural institution for the past months.
Partnership with investors
Martin Okumu, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of finance, in a press statement, highlighted the team’s commitment to fostering peace, unity, development, and amicable resolutions of conflicts facing the cultural institution.
Okumu also called on the people in the Acholi Sub-region to collaborate with investors to increase land productivity, instead of selling land cheaply. According to Okumu, the community in Acholi can collaborate through the Uganda Investment Authority, the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Development, the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the District Councils, District Land Boards, Individual farmers, KKA, and can leaders.
“We recommend a win-win form of investment for our people and investments,” he said.
The new secretariat has also come up with recommendations to ensure proper land utilization and protection of customary land.
According to Okumu, there is a need for the community in the sub-region to carry out surveys and obtain titles for their communal and family land to secure it for posterity.
This he said, would help those in dire to hire part of their land to acquire capital that will in turn aid development through Agro mechanization.
The team has also recommended the formation of cooperative societies that could help members borrow loans from banks to purchase tractors, and ox-ploughs, and build stores among others to boost their agriculture.
Power row among chiefs
The appointment of the new top members of the Institution’s secretariat comes amidst an ongoing power row at the Acholi Cultural Institution.
In July last year, 15 clan chiefs out of the 57 chiefs under the Acholi Cultural Institution led by the Atiak Clan Chief, Richard Santo Apire, resolved to oust Rwot Acana.
The Chiefs accused Rwot Acana of attempting to sell off a piece of land belonging to the cultural institution to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) at shs2.5bn, misuse of funds, incompetent leadership, and failure to introduce a constitution. Rwot Acana has severally denied all the allegations.
Early this month, a team of elders and leaders from the Acholi Sub-region led by former Chua County Legislator, John Livingstone Okello Okello, passed a resolution calling on the government to halt the payment of emoluments to Rwot Acana until the current impasse is resolved. The elders who had formed a 15-man team of negotiators last year alleged their request to meet with Rwot Acana to resolve the power row, was not granted.
But the new secretariat has rubbished the allegations, arguing that the team of elders has gone against the rule of natural justice by becoming arbitrators in a case where they have already taken sides.
“Instead of insults, disparages, allegations, and abuses of Lawirwodi, and KKA, any sensible and right thinking sons and daughters of Acholi should know how to channel his grievances. In any case, you cannot be the accuser, judge, mediator, and arbitrator in your case that you conjured,” Michael Otim, the newly unveiled Prime Minister said in a statement.
About the new Premier
Otim was born on September 3rd, 1970 in Gulu. He is a human rights and peace-building advocate working with grassroots communities in the areas of economic empowerment, transitional justice, peacebuilding, human rights, and grant management.
Otim worked as Head of Office for the International Center for Transitional Justice, Co-founder of the Justice and Reconciliation Project, and Executive Director for the Welfare Fund for Children and Youth Uganda. He is currently working with the Ministry of Local Government at the Parish Development Model Secretariat.
