The installation of Raphael Otaya, the first Kumam Cultural leader under the Kumam Cultural Heritage has been pushed to February 23rd, 2023.
Otaya who was elected in July this year as the first Won Ateker Papa Kumam was due for Coronation on November 30, 2022, but the function was postponed over the delay in the submissions of sub county resolutions.
Under Section 4, 1b of the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act, 2011, a traditional or cultural leader may be instituted in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people to whom it applies, through a resolution of not less than two thirds of all members of the district local councils and sub county local government councils respectively in the area.
George William Omuge, the Chairperson of the Kumam General Assembly, the body steering the election process and installation of Won Ateker Papa Kumam says that there was delay in the submission of resolutions from some sub counties in Amolatar and Dokolo districts which make part of the Kumam Cultural Heritage.
Omuge says that in the Kumam Constitution, they included Soroti, Kalaki, Kaberamaido, Dokolo and Amolatar as the districts where the Kumam are residents.
Amolatar and Dokolo districts are located within Lango sub region, bordering Teso sub region and neighbours to Kaberamaido, Kalaki and Soroti in Teso sub region.
According to Omuge, they were tasked to secure resolutions from all the sub county and district councils consenting to the constitution of Won Ateker Papa Kumam.
He notes that all the other districts had completed the required processes of submitting resolutions of council except in Dokolo where some sub counties like Adekenino, Adok, Agwata, Okwalongween, Kwera and Okwongodul delayed the process.
After the submission of the sub county and district resolutions to the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Won Ateker Papa Kumam will be published in the gazette before coronation, according to Omuge.
However, attempts for the comment from any of the said sub counties leaders in Dokolo district were futile by the time of filing this story since most of the known contacts were switched off.
Mzee Raphael Otaya emerged a winner and was named Won Ateker Papa Kumam after garnering 250 votes from the delegate’s conference conducted in Kaberamaido Town Council.
He beat four other contenders, William Egweu, Robert Ewangu Robert and George Michael Egunyu.
The Kumam have been under the Iteso Cultural Union- ICU whose succession process to replace the first recognized Emorimor, Augustine Osuban Lemukol was characterized by legal fights.
But in October, Paul Sande Emolot was installed as new Emorimor under the Iteso Cultural Union.