Not Your Normal News From Lango (Jan. 2025)

It’s always challenging to distinguish between those considered prominent and others who may not make public lists but are giants in their families or communities. Each life lost leaves a void that is deeply felt by those who loved them. However, I’ve compiled a list of notable Lango men and women who made a significant impact on their community and beyond, and who sadly passed away in 2024.

This list is by no means exhaustive, and omissions are not intentional. It is a tribute to those whose contributions continue to inspire even after their passing.

January

• Dr. James Eyul
  A dedicated medical doctor, Dr. Eyul was in charge of epidemic control at Entebbe International Airport. Tragically, he passed away on January 6, 2024, after being hit by a speeding truck.

• Cecilia Atim Ogwal
  A seasoned politician and businesswoman, Cecilia represented Dokolo Constituency as a Member of Parliament. She passed away on January 18, 2024, at the age of 77, leaving behind a legacy of public service and resilience.

• Benard Paul Munu (Bee Pee)
  A talented singer and songwriter from Lango, Bee Pee was beloved for his music, which resonated deeply with his community. He died in a motorcycle accident on January 24, 2024.

April

• Dr. Erizali Opio
  A former national football team doctor for Uganda Cranes, Dr. Opio played a vital role in sports medicine. He passed away on April 15, 2024, at the age of 83.

August

• Gideon Omony
  A teacher at Fatima Aloi Girls Comprehensive School and a beloved presenter on Radio Wa, Gideon was a voice for education and community engagement. He passed away on August 15, 2024, due to kidney complications.

September

• Dr. Abura Jaspher
  As a senior education officer for Lira City Council, Dr. Jaspher was committed to improving education in Lango. He died in a road accident on September 27, 2024.

October

• George Angulo
  An administrator and advisor to the Awitong of Okarowok Wibye Acel, George played a key role in cultural leadership. He passed away on October 3, 2024.

November

• Ekuka Morris
  A legendary folk artist, Ekuka’s music and storytelling preserved and celebrated Lango culture. He passed away on November 16, 2024.

• George Mawa
  A politician and humanitarian, George founded the Obanga Tek orphanage, providing a home for vulnerable children. He passed away on November 18, 2024, at the age of 49.

December

• Dr. James Richard Okwir Acana
  A medical doctor from Amolatar, Dr. Acana dedicated his life to healthcare in Lango. He passed away on December 24, 2024.

• Benjamin Olwa
  A former Apac district LC5 chairperson and founder of Uganda’s first private soap manufacturing factory, Benjamin was an innovator and community leader. He passed away on Christmas Day, 2024.

Throughout the Year

• Lt Col (Rtd) Abenego Orech
  A retired military officer and former director of Uganda’s military band, Lt Col Orech was a symbol of discipline and service. He passed away in 2024 at the age of 94.

This list celebrates the lives and contributions of individuals who left indelible marks on the Lango community. Their work, whether in education, health, culture, or public service, serves as a lasting reminder of the potential to impact lives positively. They will be dearly missed but never forgotten.

In the 1930s and 1940s in Lango, there was a serious outbreak of the disease called Nyac in Leblango but called Yaws Disease in English. This terrible ailment spread across Lango, causing immense sufferings to the people.

Records published in The British Medical Journal in 1947 highlight how Yaws devastated Lango, killing many people indiscriminately. The journal notes that Yaws particularly affected children under ten years old, though it also infected adults, albeit to a lesser extent.

Yaws is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the skin but can spread to bones and joints.

The report I read also noted that treatment for Yaws during that time was difficult. Treatment for Yaws was painful and left lasting scars at the injection sites. If afflicted, huge swellings would develop in almost any part of the body. But it particularly loved the soft skin between the buttocks.

In the villages, Yaws was treated by vigorously rubbing a handful of fresh grass leaves on the affected area. A particular grass known is Leblango as ocwici was particularly favored. The ocwicu grass would be dipped in hot water and vigorously rubbing on the affected area would commence. This was a very painful treatment. The patient would wail and wail while it was being done. This was done every day till the disease disappears.

But it would become even trickier when it came to rubbing the swelling between the two buttocks. The patient had to pull apart the two buttocks to allow the medicine man clean the swelling well. In Leblango this is called “pedo dud”.

This however proved not to be possible because of two reasons. Firstly most times the disease would have effected the patient’s fingers as well thus making it impossible for the patient to use their own hands to open the buttocks. Secondly, the shear pain could not allow the patient to hold the buttocks spreader for long. They would often let go off the buttocks and that effected the smooth flow of the therapy treatment and too much time would be spent on the treatment too.

So the solution was to bring in one or two more people to come and do the pedo dud so treatment could go unhindered. In other words, treatment of the nyac needed the joining of hands for it to go smoothly and for a quicker healing. Hence the saying in Lango “cingi keni pe pedo nguni”. Often soften to “cingi keni pe timo ginoro”.

The Yaws epidemic in Lango was eventually brought under control thanks to the work of individuals like Dr. Alexander (a British medical doctor), who introduced the use of Penicillin in the region. Other local medical practitioners, such as Olwit Ben and Ogwal Icaka (they were medical assistants), played a key role in treating and eradicating the disease in Lango. Their efforts, along with advancements in medical science, helped restore health to the community.

This piece of oral history was narrated to me by two elders who are now in their 80s.

Rik con, rwot obin otubere kede dako mere. Dako a Rwot te ngwec rwenyo oko ipaco. Rwot te moyo dako mere kakano ducu ame tye ilobo mere naca ento pe te nwongo dako mere.

Rwot te kobo ni lwak ni konye moyo dako mere. Ento lwak te moyo dako a Rwot kakanoro ducu pe te nwongere.

Nino moro acel, winyo ame olwongo ni Ogili te bino bot rwot. Ogili te kobi Rwot ni “Dako ame itye imoyo wok ku, ongweco acwilic – cwilic-cwilic. Ongweco kun abor me icel. Onweco acwilic te coro bung adongo-dongo apol. Ongweco awilic te ngolo naka dago adit. Onweco acwilic te ngolo naka nam. Dako ni ame itye imoyo woku, aman tye bedo acwilic iloka nam kun abor.

Rwot te cwalo kop bot lwak ducu ame en lo kun kobi gi ni enwongo kan ame dako mere tye iye oko. Dong en etye emoyo ngat ame romo wot omo dako mere kelo naka bote. Rwot te cikere ni ngat ame owoto naka kan ame dako mere tye iye te kelo naka bote, en ebino miyo mot abup me icel.

Kop man te lal romo kin piny ducu. Agwedegwede gin kede Ogwalogwal te dyere me wot omo cika Rwot. Ento gin te cako pyem iyi akina gi ken gi ken gi. Agwedegwede okobi rwot ni Ogwalogwal pe dwir. Dong pi mane Ogwalogwal pe romo kelo cika Rwot oyot oyot. Ento en Agwedegwede edwir amom twere ame en ame myero Rwot ore me wot omo dako mere. Agwedegwede te ngwec mano diokalo a Rwot me nyuto bang Rwot kit ame en edwri kede.

Ogwalogwal te dok ikop Agwedegwede kun kobi Rwot ni Agwedegwede gupu mere pe dang pe romo byelo cika Rwot. En Ogwalogwal aye etye kede gupu me byelo cika Rwot ete kelo naka bang rwot. Ogwalogwal te deng adit inyim Rwot me nyuti Rwot ni en etek dang etye kede gupu.

Rwot te ngolokop kun kobo ni Agwedegwede gin kede Ogwalogwal wot gin ari-ario lung me wot omo dako mere. Ngat ame okelo dako mere, en ame en emiyo mot.

Agwedegwede gin kede Ogwalogwal te cako wot oko me wot omo cik a Rwot. Gin ocoro bung adongodongo ame opikere amom kobere. Dok ote tunu idago, ote dok beo kana ame obedo lulum ento pwod peru otunu kan ame cika Rwot tye iyo.

Gin te tunu idog nam. Agwedegwede ikare ame oneno nam, te pute kede ngwec adwir te wot pono oko iyi apoka yat. Agwedegwede te cako tingo wie anok ento ka oneno nam te dwoko wie oko ping ni nap. Dok otingo wie ento teki oneno nam te dwoko wie oko ni nap. Ngolo nam te loyo Agwedegwede oko pien en lworo pi amom kobere.

Ento Ogwalogwal te pye ka iyi nam ni kwede. En to cako kwang ngolo nam. Ogwal ogwal te wot byelo cika Rwot te cako kwang kede kelo bang Rwot.

Ikare ame en tye iyo, Ogili te nene oko. Ogili te ngwec adwir kun tero kop bot Rwot. Ikare ame Ogili otunu tung a Rwot, Ogili te cako wer ni:

 “Ure, ooro Ogwalogwal, ure ooro Ogwal Ogwal

Me omo cika Rwot iloka nam.

Ure ooro Ogwal Ogwal, Ure ooro Ogwalogwal

me omo cika Rwot iloka nam.

Ogwal ogwal te kelo cika Rwot naka bot Rwot. Yi Rwot te bedo ayom te tedo twon arama pi pwoyo Ogwalogwal. Rwot dang te miyo Ogwalogwal mot abut.

Icina te gik kakano.

Ongwen Laodog

email: [email protected]

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