AikoGraphics: Wrapping Desert Dates

According to oral tradition, the Madi originated from Nigeria and moved eastwards towards the River Nile basin. At Rajaf, near Juba (South Sudan), some people broke away from the collective and moved southwards to settle in West Nile (Northwestern Uganda) plus Orientale Province in Eastern DR. Congo. The Madi called them "Lugba ni" because a woman who had wrapped lugba [desert dates] discovered that they were missing at lunch and broke away to search for them. Lugbara ti is a multinational language and mutually intelligible with Madi as well as Aringa (considered Low Lugbara) spoken in Yumbe District and neighbouring areas. They share personal names, numbers plus many words. Ra means "to wrap sth" eg fold desert dates in a cloth.

In Twenty10, I woke up one sunny Saturday morning, dressed in my kitenge shirt like a Congolese and sneaked out of Uganda without telling anyone. Inside Ariwara Market where I drank millet porridge for breakfast, I was amazed to notice that the music playing loudest was neither English nor Lingala (Congolese) but Lugbara. At a certain point in available documentation, there were more Lugbara in Congo than Uganda with nine clans; about only six or less were in UG.

Lugbaraland connects three countries and was originally the capital of Lado Enclave meaning "(My ancestors [are]) resting here"...

22 Lugbara Tips (Compiled by Aiko)

1. The Simplified Lugbara Alphabet has 28 letters minus Q and X, but adds four consonants with an apostrophe to represent the sound H namely: 'B, 'D, 'W and 'Y eg 'ba (or bha) [person]; 'dia (or dhia) [here]; 'wi (or whi) [dry]; 'yeta (or yheta) [action]...

2. Every Lugbara word ends with a vowel eg mbasala [onion]; o'du [leopard]...

3. Adding the suffix -ru [name or as sth] to a noun turns it into an adjective which can be used as a female-given name eg Ayikoru [Happy]; Chandiru [Sorrowful]; Munduru [Like a White person]...

4. Nouns are used as male-given names eg Ari [Blood]; Ayiko [Happiness]; Chandi [Sorrow]; Dra [Death]...

5. Adding the suffix -a to a noun or name of place means "(located) in that thing" eg aru-a means "in prison" and can also be used as a male-given name...

6. Lugbara words are written as pronounced eg mutuka(ri) or motoka [(motor)car]. Spelling is covered by that rule...

7. Most singulars and regular plurals are the same eg mba alu [one month]/ mba aziri [seven months] though adding (e)yi after the subject denotes many eg opi yi [chiefs]. Exceptions include mva [child] which becomes anzi [children] and others which change tone eg agupi [man] becomes agupi [men] like having a pause between agu and pi...

8. Repeating some words creates compound words (usually adjectives) eg kalikali [sweet]...

9. Sentence structure in the present tense is Subject + Object + Verb (SOV) unlike SVO in English which is past tense in Lugbara eg Ma MUNGU inzi [I'm worshipping GOD] v Ma inzi MUNGU [I worshipped GOD]...

10. The ancient original Lugbara vocabulary had few words, but because of globalisation, new words were borrowed from other cultures eg simu [phone]...

11. Most numbers after 10 are phrases made by adding dri ni before the last digit eg 11 = mudri drini alu. Multiples of ten are kali then number of items eg 20 = kali iri; multiples of 100 are turu eg 300 = turu na; multiples of 1,000 are alifu eg 5,000 = alifu towi; multiples of 1,000,000 are milioni eg 6M = Milioni azia. Same applies for 1,000,000,000 [Bilioni] and so on. Therefore, the number 411 will be: Turu su mudri drini alu...

12. Some words have more than one meaning depending on three major tones (low, middle or high) eg ti can mean produce, drip or cow, etc...

13. The letter C is always pronounced Ch like in Church eg cu(u) [market] is pronounced chew...

14. In diphthong clusters such as DJ, GB and KP, the first letter remains silent eg odji [wash] is pronounced oji; Lugbara is pronounced Lubara; okpo [power] is pronounced opo...

15. MV is pronounced NV eg mvu [drink] is pronounced nvu; omve [call] is pronounced onve...

16. NZ is pronounced NJ eg Inzikuru [Disrespectful] is pronounced Injikuru; onzi [bad] is pronounced onji..

17. Adding the suffixes -ka, -ma, -nga, -ta or -za (like in Luganda) to a verb creates a noun eg nyaka [eatable or edible]/ azakoma [help]/ a'danga [insult]/ oguta [laughter]/ laza [reading]...

18. Personal names are capitalised at the beginning and written without marks like apostrophes nor dashes but the intended meaning remains eg Atabua comes from the phrase Ata 'bu-a [Father in heaven]; Bayo comes from 'Ba yo [No people (family nor relatives)]...

19. Idioms and proverbs teach Lugbara wisdom eg Odru fu Anira ni [The buffalo killed the man who thought he knew everything]...

20. Repeating a vowel at the end of some words may be redundant unless you mean something else eg letaa means "in love" and not just "love" which is simply leta; andrii redefines "the mother" but can just be andri; ocoo can be written as oco [dog] since oco o also means "the dog did"...

21. Madi, Lugbara and Aringa (considered Low Lugbara) are mutually intelligible languages because they share names, numbers and many words. According to oral history, the Madi originated from Nigeria and moved eastwards to the River Nile basin. A certain woman lost her lugba [desert dates] which she had folded somewhere and caused a group to break away at Rajaf, near Juba; the Madi called them "Lugba ni" while Khartoum slave traders named them Lugbara and they settled in Lado [(My ancestors are) resting here] which covers West Nile, Northeastern DR Congo and South sudan. Personally, Madi sounded like broken Lugbara the first time I heard it in Kampala while Aringa is like Patois or Pidgin Lugbara adding "(n)ga" or "go" to some words eg ADRO becomes ADRONGA [GOD, the Creator]/ ambo becomes ambogo [big]; interchanging letter E with I or O with U or Y with J in some words eg etu becomes itu [sun]/ ori becomes uri [snake]/ e'yo becomes ijo [issue]; etc. According to a 2011 Here Is Life Orthography, Aringati uses 26 consonants and 9 vowels...

22. The Lugbarati Language Board developed 45 Lugbara letters (7 vowels and 38 consonants) in a December 2013 Orthography Guide with tone-indicating diacritic vowel marks (accents like in French and lines) plus other rules, but if the symbols look too crowded to write, then just use a Simplified Lugbara Dictionary or Wordbook based on Arua Lugbara! The only thing that should bother you is the apostrophe sounds which can be learnt by hearing speech or music. For the rest of the romanisation like in Tip 6, what you see is what you get...

4th Agofe...

THE CONSTITUTION OF

THE LUGBARA CULTURAL INSTITUTION

(LUGBARA KARI)

APRIL 2024

PREAMBLE

We the People of the Lugbara Tribe:

Recalling our history as the people of the same historical and cultural background, origin and realizing the need to unite for a purpose;

Recalling that the Lugbara people had decentralized system of governance with no single King but multiples leaders (Chiefs) of the Subtribes;

Recognizing our struggle to salvage the dying and rapidly fading cultural norms, practices, values, standards and traditions of the Lugbara people;

Reaffirming our commitment to build a Cultural Institution of the Lugbara Tribe comprising four Subtribes namely: Ayivu, Maracha, Terego and Vurra under one Paramount Chief, herein referred to as Agofe, that will facilitate the achievement of the vision, mission, goals and objective for which the four Subtribes of the Lugbara people come together;

Exercising our cultural obligation and inalienable rights to determine the form of governance for our tribe and having fully participated in the validation and enactment of the Constitution of the Lugbara Kari as per the list shown in appendix 3 below; and

Noting that each of the four Subtribes of the Lugbara is represented in the Parliament, herein referred to as Langa, by ten people namely: the leader of the Subtribe (Chief) and 9 other persons [four (4) males, three (3) females, one (1) person with disability, and one (1) youth], totaling to ten (10), and having fully participated in discussing the draft constitution prepared by the constitutional review committee,

Do hereby, in and through this Langa adopt, enact and give to ourselves and our posterity (future generations) this Constitution of the Lugbara Kari.

ARTICLES OF THE CONSTITUTION

Article 1: Name, Nature and Area of Operation of the Organization

1.1 Name of Organization:

The name of the institution shall be “The Lugbara Cultural Institution” (Lugbara Kari)

1.2. Nature of the Organization:

The Institution shall be nonpartisan and non-government and specifically focus on the development, promotion and sustenance of the culture of the Lugbara people, and ensuring peace, unity and development among them.

1.3 Area of Operation of the Organization:

⦁ The registered office of the Lugbara Kari shall be situated in Arua City located in Northwestern Region of Uganda. The headquarters shall be called “The Lugbara House”.

⦁ Lugbara Kari shall operate in the Ugandan districts occupied by the people of the four Subtribes of the Lugbara.

Article 2: Vision, Mission, Core Values, Motto and Objectives of the Lugbara Kari

2.1 Vision:

A united people of Lugbara enjoying economic, social and cultural prosperity in conformity with Lugbara culture, tradition, norms and values.

2.2 Mission:

To promote popular participation and unity among the Lugbara people through cultural and developmental programs for the improvement of the livelihood of the people.

2.3 Core Values

⦁ Unity

⦁ Integrity and Truth

⦁ Accountability

⦁ Hardwork

⦁ Diversity

⦁ Stewardship

⦁ Hospitality and

⦁ Teamwork

2.4 Specific Objectives of the Lugbara Kari

Lugbara Kari shall strive to achieve the following specific objectives:

⦁ To rejuvenate the culture, tradition, norms, values and practices of the Lugbara and preserve them with the aim of fostering unity, trust and spirit of cooperation and understanding among the Lugbara.

⦁ To promote initiatives aimed at identifying cultural heritage, norms, standards and values of the Lugbara people through research and documentation.

⦁ To safeguard the boundary, land, culture and the tradition of the people of Lugbara.

⦁ To create a platform for the tribe of Lugbara wherever they may be found, especially those living in Uganda and Diaspora to freely associate and form themselves into an organized group to discuss and voice their concerns as a body whose foundation stands on culture, tradition and brother/ sisterhood.

⦁ To encourage and promote collection of ancient articles and artifacts of social life and sacred practices as well as other inheritances and construct Museum and Cultural Research Centers wherever they will be promoted.

⦁ To promote research done with a purpose of identifying the problems facing the Lugbara people and writing their history and socio-cultural practices that can help the leadership of the Lugbara Kari to consolidate itself as a tribe in Uganda and the world.

⦁ To cooperate with Government Departments and Commissions, different organizations, and other Cultural Institutions with the aim of contributing to the achievement of the set objectives of the Lugbara Kari.

⦁ To hold in trust, promote and oversee the socio-economic development of the Lugbara people by appointing ministers and their deputies who shall be charged with the task of ensuring healthy environment and economic development of the people and

⦁ To play vital role in building peace and resolving conflicts among the Lugbara community using the traditions, cultural norms, values and standards.

2.3 Directive Principles of the Lugbara Kari Policies

The organs, agencies and persons of the Lugbara Kari shall be guided by the following principles in applying or interpreting this constitution for a just, free and quality service delivery.

2.3.1 Social-Economic Objective:

To rejuvenate and promote Lugbara culture and create a platform for the Lugbara community to work and advance their cause as an Institution for common socio-cultural and economic development.

2.3.2 Socio-Economic Principle:

⦁ To use and practise Lugbara traditions, cultural norms, values, and standards; taking into consideration the laws governing the nation to build peace and enhance socio-cultural and economic development in the chiefdom.

⦁ To fight and eradicate moral decadence among the Lugbara.

2.3.3 Cultural Objectives:

To uphold and promote traditions, cultural values, standards and norms of the ancient Lugbara that are consistent with the fundamental human rights of the people.

2.3.4 Accountability Principle:

⦁ All offices of the Lugbara Kari shall be held in trust of the Lugbara people

⦁ All persons placed in positions of responsibility shall, in their work, adhere to the directives given to them and account for their acts, omissions and practices.

2.3.5 Integrity Principle:

The work of the Lugbara Kari shall be done with honesty and transparency while taking into consideration that:

⦁ Service delivery is of high quality.

⦁ Honesty and openness are ensured in everything that is said.

⦁ Activities seeking to initiate changes are consistent with the vision and goals of the Lugbara Kari and

⦁ Creativity and innovativeness are emphasized to meet the demands of the dynamic world.

2.3.6 The Principle of Shared Ownership:

⦁ The Lugbara Kari shall emphasize inclusivity in all its programmes at all levels in planning, implementation and decision-making process, both within and outside and

⦁ The Lugbara Kari shall uphold teamwork and collaborative approach in all its operations.

2.3.7 Respect:

Lugbara Kari shall uphold the dignity, values, rights, contributions and potential of every individual and entities through:

⦁ Listening to different options and voices

⦁ Embracing gender, ethical, religious and professional diversity; and

⦁ Treating all people with fairness, empathy and humanity whether unprivileged or marginalized.

2.4 Motto:

God loves the Lugbara people so much (Adro le Lugbara yi tu)

Article 3: Activities of the Lugbara Kari

The Lugbara Kari shall involve itself in a variety of activities some of which include:

⦁ Supplementing government programmes in the following areas:

⦁ HIV/ AIDS

⦁ Maternal and child health

⦁ Family planning

⦁ Gender Based Violence (GBV)

⦁ End to child marriages and teenage pregnancies.

⦁ Promoting education of all forms (informal, nonformal and formal) for the Lugbara people

⦁ Conducting community dialogues on issues of importance to the members of the Lugbara Kari

⦁ Disseminating the policy brief and institutional pronouncements (in both English and Lugbarati) among the members of the four Subtribes that constitute the Lugbara Kari

⦁ Operationalizing Article 246 of the 1995 constitution of the Republic of Uganda as amended.

⦁ Promoting involvement of women in development programmes

⦁ Promoting peaceful co-existence between refugees and hosting communities and

⦁ Promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to foster reconciliation, peace, unity and harmony amongst the Lugbara and between the refugees and hosting communities.

Article 4: Membership to the Lugbara Kari

4.1 Acquisition of Membership:

Membership to the Lugbara Kari shall be acquired through the following:

⦁ Birth

⦁ Descent

⦁ Granted by the relevant authority within the Lugbara Kari on request by a person who has made a significant contribution to the people of Lugbara and

⦁ Through marriage to a Lugbara

4.2 Categories of Membership:

There shall be three categories of membership in the Lugbara Kari. These shall include the following:

4.2.1 Full Members:

Full membership shall be accorded to people in the four Subtribes of the Lugbara (Ayivu, Maracha, Terego and Vurra) including the unborn, living and those living outside the borders of the Lugbara Kari.

4.2.2 Associate Members:

Associate membership shall be accorded to the clans of Lugbara in the neighbouring Countries such the Democratic Republic of Congo herein referred to as ‘’Ba ayia’ and the Republic of South Sudan as well as their descendants in the Diaspora who belong to the same clan.

4.2.3 Honorary Members:

Honorary membership shall be accorded to individuals who initially are not a Lugbara by descent but have made an invaluable contribution to humanity in general and to the people of Lugbara in particular as recognized and agreed by the relevant authority within the Lugbara Kari.

Article 5: Organs of the Lugbara Kari Government

There shall be three (3) main organs of the Lugbara Kari Government namely: The Executive/ Cabinet, the Parliament (Langa), and the Judiciary as diagrammatically illustrated in Appendix 1 below.

5.1 The Executive/ Cabinet:

⦁ There shall be an Executive/ Cabinet of the Lugbara Kari government consisting of family heads, sub-clan leaders, the Clan leaders, Subtribes leaders, and the Agofe (the cultural component) and the Cabinet (technical/ professional).

⦁ Both the Executive and the Cabinet shall fall under the Agofe whose regalia herein referred to as the things and especially the dress and decoration, that belong exclusively to Agofe, shall include:

⦁ Special dress/ costume

⦁ Spear

⦁ Bow

⦁ Flag of Lugbara Kari

⦁ Arrows

⦁ Ndere

⦁ Goat skin for standing/ stepping on

⦁ A drum

⦁ Walking stick

⦁ Bolo or nazuru for keeping arrows – wilika, nome and katraa, omiia, aripa, gonde

⦁ Members of the Cabinet shall be nominated by their respective Chiefs for vetting by Human Resource (HR) Committee who will make their recommendations to the Clerk to the Council and the Prime Minister before finally being forwarded for appointment by His Highness, the Agofe.

⦁ The Cabinet of the Lugbara Kari shall be headed by an Executive Prime Minister who shall have a deputy or deputies depending on the prevailing circumstances. Each Cabinet member shall head a sector (Ministry) and where necessary, deputy ministers shall be appointed to assist them. In each Ministry, different professionals shall be recruited to implement various projects and deliver services to the Lugbara people.

⦁ The current Cabinet that has been working on the process of gazzeting the Lugbara Kari shall continue to work until the Lugbara Kari government is gazetted by the Government of the Republic of Uganda.

⦁ After Lugbara Kari has been fully gazzetted, the monthly support funds from the Central Government are being regularly received, the respective Chief of the Concerned Subtribe has submitted the particulars of the replacements for leaders who have clocked the age of 80 years may be retired with full benefits and a nominal monthly pension to be determined by Human Resource Committee.

⦁ As guided by the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development, the recommendation for gazzetting the Lugbara Kari shall come from the three purely Lugbara speaking districts of Arua, Maracha, and Terego.

5.2 The Parliament (Langa) and its Composition

⦁ There shall be a Parliament (Langa) composed of 36 members elected by all the Subtribes in addition to the four (4) Subtribe leaders (Chiefs) totaling to 40 members. The 36 members shall be elected in accordance with the following guidelines:

⦁ Nine (9) big clan leaders from each of the four Subtribes namely: Ayivu, Maracha, Terego and Vurra,

⦁ Four (4) of the nine (9) Big clan leaders in (i) above shall be males, three (3) females, one (1) a person with special needs; and one (1) youth; and

⦁ The first sitting of the Langa shall be to elect a Speaker and his/ her deputy from amongst themselves under the supervision and guidance by the Clerk to the Council. In an event where the Langa feels none of them can perform the duties of the Speaker, they will request the Human Resource Committee to search for such a person from among the people of Lugbara using an agreed upon procedure.

5.3 The Judiciary

The Judiciary arm of the Lugbara Kari Government shall be mobile. It shall be a conflict resolution body which uses the traditional justice mechanisms/ systems to resolve conflicts among and between the Lugbara people and reconcile the aggrieved parties after the conflict has been resolved. This will comprise of the family heads, the sub-clan leaders, and the clan leaders from the conflicting parties. The teams that resolve conflicts under the Judiciary shall come from where the conflict occurs.

Article 6: Functions of the Organs of the Lugbara Kari Government

6.1 The Cabinet

The Cabinet of Lugbara Kari Government shall:

⦁ Perform tasks as assigned by virtue of their position.

⦁ Advise and help the Executive Prime Minister to run the Lugbara Kari Government in order to achieve its goals and strategic objectives.

⦁ Guide the Parliament on issues related to the Ministry they are heading

⦁ Guide the development of project proposals for better service delivery and

⦁ Perform any other duties that may be assigned to them by the Parliament and Prime Minister from time to time.

6.2 The Parliament (Langa)

The Langa shall:

⦁ Lay down the general socio-cultural and economic policies to be translated into action by the various organs of the Lugbara Kari government.

⦁ Approve projects to be implemented by all the four Subtribes for the cultural and socio-economic advancement of the Lugbara people.

⦁ Be the supreme legislative body of the Lugbara Kari Government and the voice in all matters concerning culture and traditions of the Lugbara people.

⦁ Amend and approve the Constitution of the Lugbara Kari where 2/3 of the members present shall form the quorum for the meeting.

⦁ Formulate policies which shall form the basis of all activities of the Lugbara Kari.

⦁ Handle disputes on cultural practices and any other conflicts concerning the Lugbara people within its areas of jurisdiction.

⦁ Set up committees to promote research on the projects, history, cultures and practices of Lugbara in different epochs of time and places.

⦁ Approve annual auditing of the Lugbara Kari’s books of accounts by external auditors and

⦁ Nominate such senior officers as shall be required for discharge of necessary duties duly approved by the Langa.

6.3 The Judiciary

The Judiciary of Lugbara Kari Government shall:

⦁ Receive complaints about particular conflicts.

⦁ Sermon the concerned conflicting parties and the family heads, sub-clan leaders and Clan leaders to come to sit together to resolve the issues using transitional justice mechanisms/ systems.

⦁ Impose symbolic fines, punishment, and payments for damages/ inconveniences caused.

⦁ Reconcile the warrying parties.

⦁ Administer curses (awadri/ atrita) on parties that do not accept their guilt.

⦁ Refer criminal offenses like defilement, killings/ murder and robbery with firearms to police and formal courts.

6.4 Functions of Individual Officers of Lugbara Kari

6.5.1 The Agofe

The Agofe shall:

⦁ Preside over cultural ceremonies. In performing his roles, the Agofe shall be furnished with the regalia listed in article 5.1 above.

⦁ Preside over functions where a lower/ smaller cultural leader is being installed.

⦁ Establish collaborations with other cultural/ traditional leaders in Uganda or abroad.

⦁ Approve recommendations, committees and officers forwarded to him by the Langa for consideration as shall be necessary in the discharge of Lugbara Kari’s duties.

6.5.2 The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister

The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister shall be:

⦁ The Executive Head of the Cabinet and leader of business of the Lugbara Kari Cultural Government

⦁ The Spokesperson of Lugbara Kari but may delegate either the Deputy Prime Minister or the Clerk to the Council to speak to the press/ media when he/ she is occupied in another assignment.

⦁ The custodian of the Seal and other physical/ material resources of the Lugbara Kari Government, signatory to all official documents; and the Principal signatory to the Bank Accounts.

⦁ Responsible for the administration of Lugbara Kari Government

⦁ Implement decisions of Parliament as approved and

⦁ The link between Lugbara Kari and development partners

6.5.3 The Speaker of the Langa

The Rt. Hon. Speaker shall:

⦁ Upon the consultation with the Agofe and Prime Minister, convene Parliament.

⦁ Draw the agenda for parliamentary meetings with Prime Minister and ministers

⦁ Chair the Parliament meetings of Lugbara Kari

⦁ Conduct any election within Parliament that concerns an issue to have a vote on and

⦁ Make a casting vote where the votes are equal.

Article 7: Meetings of the Organs of Lugbara Kari Government

7.1 Types of Meetings:

The Lugbara Kari shall convene the following types of meetings:

⦁ Langa which shall sit at least 2 times a year at a notice of twenty-one (21) days.

⦁ Cabinet meetings to be held once in 2 months.

⦁ Emergency meetings which shall be called at any time as and when matters to be discussed are urgent at a notice of fourteen (14) days.

7.2 Quorum for the Meetings:

a) The quorum for Langa shall be two thirds (2/3) of the members and

b) The quorum for Cabinet Meetings shall be one half (1/2) of the members.

Article 8: Finances and other Resources of the Lugbara Kari

8.1 Sources and Management of Funds

⦁ The Lugbara Kari shall raise funds for implementing and running the affairs of its government. The sources of such funds shall be:

⦁ Contributions/ subscriptions from clan members

⦁ Grants from Central and Local Government and development partners

⦁ Donations from individuals and non-government organizations

⦁ Income generated from projects and activities such as museums and cultural centres, marriage certificates, etc.

⦁ Income from fund raising appeals and

⦁ Private-Public Partnerships (PPPs)

⦁ All funds of the Lugbara Kari shall be banked with an established bank approved by the Langa in the name of Lugbara Kari

⦁ The Prime Minister shall be the principal signatory to the accounts of the Lugbara Kari, while the Finance Minister and the Accountant shall be alternate signatories.

⦁ The principal signatory and any one of the two shall transact business on the said account.

⦁ The Prime Minister shall ensure that all other non-financial resources secure and used to enhance service delivery for the good of the Lugbara people.

⦁ The Prime Minister (who shall be the Principal Signatory) shall keep the Agofe well informed of all the transactions.

⦁ Terms and conditions for any fund to Lugbara Kari shall be explained to the Agofe and the Chiefs.

8.2 Auditing of the Books of Accounts of the Lugbara Kari

⦁ The parliament of the Lugbara Kari shall appoint an auditor to audit the books of accounts every financial year.

⦁ The auditor shall present the audited report to the Langa annually.

⦁ A given auditor or audit firm shall not act as auditor for the Lugbara Kari for more than three (3) consecutive years

8.3 The Land of the Lugbara

8.3.1 The Legal Framework on Land in Uganda

⦁ The Lugbara customary land law takes into account the legal frameworks in the area of land management in Uganda. In the Land Act Cap 227, subject to article 237 of the Constitution, all land in Uganda is vested in the citizens of Uganda and shall be owned in accordance with the land tenure systems that include: customary, freehold, mailo and leasehold.

⦁ The 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (in Cap 4. Clauses 32-36) highlights the rights of marginalized groups, women, children and persons with disabilities but does not explicitly point out the rights of the youth.

⦁ The national land policy 2013 clarifies the rights of ethnic minority tribes, pastoral communities, women and children, dwellers in informal settlement as well as other vulnerable groups.

8.3.2 Customary Land Tenure Systems in Lugbara Kari

⦁ Customary or Communal land is defined herein as land over which more than one family has rights and which is managed by people chosen by the clan, on behalf of the clans.

⦁ Among the Lugbara, land is categorized into three namely:

⦁ arable land

⦁ communal clan land and

⦁ unallocated or unused land.

Arable land is apportioned, or “individualized” by the clan to a household head, normally at the time of marriage. The head of the household is mostly the male person or husband in the family. The communal land usually consists of grazing land, hunting grounds, dancing grounds, marketplaces, playing grounds, forests, wetlands, ceremonial land and other land of a similar nature. The unallocated land is land that the head of the household keeps for his own personal use.

⦁ All the wetlands in the territory of Lugbara Kari must always be protected.

⦁ The Lugbara Kari shall have rules governing customary land management in the form of the Lugbara Kari Land Policy that stipulates guidelines for ownership, use and management of customary land.

⦁ In Lugbara, over 90% of the land is held under customary land tenure system and managed in accordance with the Lugbara customs and practices. Whereas Lugbara customs and practices in land tenure management are well known amongst the Lugbara elders, their understanding and clarity within 21st Century influences and loss of traditional norms is not yet clear.

8.3.3 Specific Law Provisions on the Customary Land Tenure System in Lugbara Kari

⦁ Lugbara land should not be sold to create landless class of its citizens.

⦁ The Lugbara people are barred from selling land as land belongs to the living, the dead and those yet to be born. However, the clan can give permission to a family whose head has been jailed for over ten years and has no other source of money to sell a small portion of their family land for treatment, school fees, etc.

⦁ The family head must ensure that boys, girls and children with special needs are each given plots to own and use.

⦁ There should be no encroachment onto the chunk of land given to a wife by the children of other wives within a clan.

⦁ Though in Lugbara culture co-investment on land for cultivation is allowed, this should be done for a limited period of time. After expiration of the agreed period, the land reverts to the owner.

⦁ Women should be empowered as the true owners of customary land because they are considered married by the clan and the children they produce belong to the clan of the husband.

⦁ The children of the clan (both females and males) should continue to own portions of the chunk of land given to their mothers.

⦁ Men serve as security by ensuring that clan land is not sold, grabbed or encroached upon by foreigners.

⦁ The heir to a man must be a male born by the 1st spinster wife to protect the clan land, except in situations where the children are all girls. Where the 1st born is insane or confused, the 2nd or 3rd or next takes over, including the children of the 2nd wife if those of the 1st wife are unable to be heir to their father for the above reasons.

⦁ The new generation should honour the giving of chunks of land by clans for essential social services, for example churches, schools, mosques, etc. They have no powers to withdraw land already given for essential services.

Article 9: Rights of the Lugbara People

Lugbara Kari being the cultural government of the Lugbara, shall observe, protect, defend and translate into action the following basic fundamental human rights given to each human person by the ALMIGHTY GOD. These include the right to:

⦁ life

⦁ dignity

⦁ values

⦁ freedoms - of movement, to choose a faith or religion, to associate politically, economically, socially, etc.

⦁ access to air, land, water, and sunshine.

Article 10: Elections Within the Lugbara Kari Government

10.1 The Selection of the Agofe:

⦁ The position of the Agofe of Lugbara Kari shall be occupied on a mutually agreed rotational basis.

⦁ The Agofe shall come from the one the Chiefs of the four Subtribes.

⦁ The tenure of Agofe shall be mandatorily five (5) years. In the new dispensation, the rotation shall start with Ayivu, followed by Maracha, followed by Terego and then Vurra and the cycle will start all again. The tenure of the five (5) year period commences from the date the Langa (Parliament) pronounces one of the chiefs to be an Agofe.

⦁ The responsibility of selecting Chiefs for each of the Sub-tribe shall rest on the clan leaders in the four (4) Sub-tribes of Ayivu, Maracha, Terego and Vurra.

⦁ Whoever emerges as Agofe shall be replaced within three (3) weeks from the date of pronouncement by the Langa (Parliament), by one of the clan leaders of that Subtribe concerned.

⦁ For a person to be a Chief in any of the Subtribes, he must have high moral character, proven integrity, never engage in partisan politics as required in the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (as amended) and have robust knowledge of the history, language, culture and traditions or customs of the Lugbara people.

10.2 Election to the Langa of Lugbara Kari Government

The following procedure shall be followed in the elections to the Langa:

⦁ Each Subtribe of Lugbara people shall elect nine (9) representatives to Langa.

⦁ The elections shall be by show of hands.

⦁ Eligible candidates for election to the Langa shall be adults of 18 years and above, have knowledge of Lugbara culture, traditions and customs plus possess proven integrity.

⦁ Those elected shall serve for a period of five (5) years and thereafter go to seek new mandate for another term.

10.3 Removal of the Agofe from Office

⦁ The Agofe of the Lugbara shall automatically vacate his seat in case of:

⦁ Insanity certified by a government medical doctor in a mental health facility

⦁ Incapacitation due to ill health

⦁ Abdication of duty without reasonable cause

⦁ Resignation

⦁ Upon imprisonment following a court sentence

⦁ Through a petition to the Prime Minister signed by 2/3 of Langa arising from incompetence, corruption, abuse of office and any other ground deemed to be inconsistent with his office.

⦁ Upon receipt of such a petition, the Prime Minister shall forward the same to the Agofe and the Langa shall be called within twenty-one (21) days from the date of the receipt of the petition to discuss and come up with a resolution.

⦁ Upon debate of the petition, the Langa shall determine the issue through:

⦁ Secret elections whose results shall be declared there and then

⦁ If decision is unanimous with full evidence that the Agofe should go, the declaration shall be made and signed by all members present and endorsed as the resolution of the Langa on behalf of the Lugbara people

10.4 Removal of Officers and Members of the Organs of the Lugbara Kari

⦁ An officer or member of any organs shall be removed from office if he/ she commits any of the disciplinary offences stipulated in the rules and regulations of the Lugbara Kari government mentioned in article 12 below.

⦁ A decision to remove the affected officer shall be debated and reached by the disciplinary committee of Lugbara Kari.

⦁ Removal of a Cabinet Minister after full gazetting of Lugbara Kari shall be through a request and/ or approval by the respective Minister’s Chief.

10.5 Termination of Tenure of Office

Any member of Lugbara Kari holding an office can have his/ her tenure terminated through any of the following ways:

⦁ Resignation with a mandatory three months written notice given by the officer

⦁ Death

⦁ Misconduct

⦁ Insanity

⦁ Bankruptcy

⦁ After attaining the age of 80

Article 11: The Official Language

⦁ The official language of the Kari shall be Lugbarati

⦁ English and Kiswahili shall be used where a member fails to express him/ herself in Lugbarati but shall be translated into Lugbarati for purposes of records.

Article 12: Rules and Regulations

⦁ The rules and regulations of the Kari shall be prepared by the secretariat with the approval of Langa.

⦁ The rules shall provide for overall businesses and governance of the Kari derived from the articles set in this constitution.

Article 13: Dissolution

⦁ A motion for dissolution of Lugbara Kari shall be moved by a member of Langa.

⦁ The motion shall be supported by 2/3 of the members present in Langa

⦁ Notice for the motion moved specifically for the purpose of dissolving Lugbara Cultural Institution shall be issued seventy-two (72) working days to the members of the Langa detailing reasons for the proposal and list of the seconders of the motion.

Article 14. Liabilities:

The liability of the members of the Lugbara Kari shall be limited by guarantee.

Article 15: Interpretations and Amendments

⦁ Any member in Parliament may move a motion to amend an Article of this constitution

⦁ A notice of such amendments shall be submitted to the Prime Minister thirty (30) days before Langa.

⦁ In this constitution unless otherwise specified, the following terms and concepts used shall mean:

⦁ Agofe = Paramount Chief (Opi) of Lugbara

⦁ 'Ba ayia = The Lugbara Community in Democratic Republic of Congo

⦁ Chiefdom = Lugbara Kari

⦁ Constitution = The Constitution of Lugbara Cultural Institution (Lugbara Kari)

⦁ Cultural sites = Areas of historical importance to the people of Lugbara and carrying artifacts and articles of Lugbara Culture.

⦁ Ministers = The appointees of the Agofe to lead Departments in Lugbara Kari Secretariat

⦁ The Secretariat = Implementing Organ of the Lugbara Kari Government

APPENDICES

Appendix 1: The Organogram of the Lugbara Kari

Appendix 2: Membership and Composition of the Constitutional Review Committee

NO. NAME POSITION CLAN SIGNATURE

1 Rt. Hon. Rev. Dr. Christopher A. Yikii Chairperson Vurra

2 Rt. Hon. Prof. Willy Ngaka Sec/ Vice Chairperson Ayivu

3 Dr. Agatha Alidri Member Maracha

4 Hon. Fred Aguta Member Maracha

5 Hon. Agnes Asianzu Monday Member Vurra

6 Hon. Suzan Ezatia Member Ayivu

7 Hon. John Godo Member Ayivu

8 Hon. Rtd. Justice Augustus Kania Member Terego

9 Hon. Jaffar Alekua Member Terego

Appendix 3: Signatures of the Chiefs and Clan Leaders

LUGBARA KARI- UGANDA

(LUGBARA CULTURAL INSTITUTION)

E-mail: karilugbara@gmail.com

TEL: 0782831080/ 0702831080/ 0776962600

We, the representatives of all the clan leaders, who have appended our signatures below, hereby approve and enact this Constitution of the Lugbara Kari, on this 28th Day of April 2024 at Arua City Council Hall.

S/No. NAME SEX NAMES OF THE SUBTRIBES SIGN

⦁ Opi (Ayivu)

⦁ Hon. Eli Ejiku Emo M Oluko

⦁ Hon. Zachari Alio M Adumi

⦁ Hon. Yosam Alioni M Aroi

⦁ Hon. Stephene Nyatibo (Youth) M Aroi

⦁ Hon. Willy Banduni M Pajulu

⦁ Hon. Peter Mvadeyo (PWD) M Manibe

⦁ Hon. Harriet Drateru F Dadamu

⦁ Hon. Nolla Chandiru F Adumi

⦁ Hon. Mary Ayikoru F Aroi

⦁ Opi Anzelo Alia Pati (Maracha) M Kijomoro