Thursday

MUNGU O'bani [GOD Created]


GOD is great! As a kid in Jinja (1984 to 1995), I loved going near Lake Victoria (to gaze into the unknown and let my problems go or fly away like the legion demons which JESUS cast out of two men in Gadarenes), Source of the Nile where the water spun in an unusual way and berries tasted transcendental plus spraying plastic-hosepipe-water on ourselves with friends for fun even across Owen Falls Dam in N(kokon)jeru (since we had no expensive waterguns); it thrills and relaxes. Even overhead bathroom showers do the same thing. H2O is life, makes up 70 percent of our bodies and planet: JESUS was baptised by his cousin John with water and turned it into wine, not kombucha. Sometimes when I looked East while on top of Arua Hill (peaceful place I go to when I want to unwind, heal or reset my aura instead of feeling low - Depression is a choice), I would helplessly wish there was a heart-soothing, mind-pacifying, pain-drowning-lake nearby (since Albert and Nyoro Crater or Rokoze which I call Lake Maracha are too far) instead of Barifa Forest. The other wish was for River Nile to be visible via binoculars view almost like Mt. Oce in Moyo. However, finally motivating myself to check out and explore Yia Chalu (aka Abairo Falls) before the Apocalypse, emulating Sir Samuel Baker, on Thursday 20th February 2025 somehow brought my wish to life. My eager heart was pounding steadily with wonder. Abairo Falls is a walkable distance from Arua City even if you take some exhausting time to get there. All that matters is knowing the route. You can as well hire a bodaboda motorcyclist to ferry you there in at least 15 minutes!

Abairo Falls in Oluko (East of Arua City)...

Below are directions to Abairo Falls (owned by John Acile) on River Asa which flows into Acha: From Arua Hill Roundabout, turn right and follow Weatherhead Park Lane. Cut right onto Oluko Road until the football field near Alua Primary School (Education is the Key to Success), then cut right again plus follow the right curve (instead of left split) near Malingumu Events Amsterdam for 2 kilometres until you cross River Asa bridge. Shortly after it, the road curves right towards Ambeko, but move straight on your left. This is the trickiest moment of the journey; if you get it right, you will find yourself near Oluko Falls (a series of waterfalls). On this lefthand route which I call Waterfalls Road, you will find homes, a camping site, forests, grasslands, gardens, Shine office with roofed car-park and finally Arise Center on your left. As you approach your destination, you will see breathtaking undulating hills and valleys on your rightside; it's quite unbelievable considering the flat near-plateau appearance of Arua close to the city. There are scattered people on the way, so you won't feel completely lonely as you slope: You have reached Oluko Falls (though some locals deny that name; I think it's a series) which starts with Oloporoporo Falls (bought by an American humanitarian from Acile's uncle) on the left of a uniquely-designed-and-painted shop (with a green ironsheet roof just like the bigger houses behind it on the same compound). Abairo Falls near (then 57-year-old) John Acile's home next to a metallic roadblock is farther down at the bottom end of Waterfalls Road. Acile's place is where your vehicle stops (and you may have to pay some money - around 2K UGX - for his family to watch it for you; Gate Entry fee documented with Abairo Waterfalls Friends Association receipt starts at 3K for locals, 5K for Indians and 10K for Bazungu), but you can hear waterfalls roaring from here though won't see Abairo until you slope farther past the foodhouse, sheds and latrine. It's a very good outdoor exercise adventure even if you start panting for breath. You can even sit on a bench or chair and watch the riverwater just before it falls down the gorge, technically the reverse Top of Abairo Falls. There is floating safety-equipment for learners or young swimmers eg black inflated-tyre-tubes. Between both waterfalls are smaller ones (one of which I named Ac[h]ile who showed it to me) or rapids (whitewater) and the land across the river in this stretch was bought by BN Group (an Anglican organisation) who plan to build a hospital plus Bible Study University.

Another TikTok-uploadable route is from Muni through a panya at Our Lady of Rosary Ambeko Chapel (Eucharistic Centre in Oluko Parish of Arua Diocese) or to Ambeko-Oluko Bypass Junction, then turn right towards Ambeko Primary School with borehole on the side and follow the road after the school until you turn right. You can also follow the left-right-left-right winding road only until you reach a sharp corner and turn right. If you go farther, you will reach the first route above and see the Asa Bridge; Waterfalls Road starts when you cut right. Before my mother departed in Twenty22, I had asked some people in a garden along the motorway connecting Oluko Road to Muni and Ewuata where Oluko Falls was, but they didn't know and grey clouds were hovering above warning of rain, so I went back home. However, I discovered that about 300 metres after the triple-culvert River Asa Bridge is another diversion on the eastside that links you to the above mentioned Ambeko-Oluko Bypass at a Y-corner; you basically have three (to four or more) routes.

I have decided to follow JESUS!

Magubaku [Do not laugh at people] (Try yours)!

The name Abairo is inspired by the concept that "yi wala ndeni angu 'di ma alea; yi badaka" [most voluminous water is in this area; water is a lot]!

Arise Center in Oluko...
 
Sunrise in Oluko (Arua); Abairo is down the hill...
The Almighty GOD (No one compares to HIM) made Miriadua Falls in Maracha, the World's Most Powerful Waterfall at Murchison (Kabalega) Falls in Bunyoro plus Rift Valley escarpments and mountains in Western Uganda, but in Oluko, it's like HE mashed them up together as mini-photocopies or minimalist replications; so amazing! The weather is even the same. Oloporoporo Falls also called Upper Abairo Falls (Wonder if it's the Whaa Falls I used to read about one kilometre from Abairo, but definitely Mundu ma Yi [Whiteman's water]) is approximately 7 metres high with flatter block-shaped rocks reminiscent of Miriadua; I saw a manya [monitor lizard] bigger plus longer than my forearm below the elbow jump into the vegetation growing on the left of the rocks. Olokoto poroporo [Many red-orange-headed geckos] are the reason for the name of the falls. Pond-swimming (What we called dubi in Naguru) is difficult there because of many rocks at the bottom of the shallow pool. However, changes are being made with removal of rocks. Germans visit Oloporoporo a lot. On my 3rd visit to Oloporoporo Falls (Sunday 16th March Twenty25), I snapshot some photos plus captured a short video of the multi-step waterfall, refreshing like two doughnuts and 320 millilitres of Exotic Tamarind-flavoured carbonated soft drink from Riham. A distance from this area, Mike Elkins built his beautiful home. There is also a camping site, Arise Center (Hall) and cottages as though it's the Rwenzori Mountains in Kasese and Toro Kingdom; just splendid, priceless scenic views like in a Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) national game park! YESU le ma aga [JESUS loves me beyond]. Mike plus his wife Megan bless orphans and disabled people in Vurra, Madi and Terego plus South Sudan with medicine, tuition, food and accommodation (3-roomed iron-roof houses for those with families and grass-thatched huts for old beneficiaries). There is a trail near the river linking Oloporoporo to Abairo and its tree canopy reminds me of Nabinonya Beach in Kisubi (Buganda). Encouraged by Government and National Forestry Authority (NFA), Acile wants to plant mario [mahogany] trees at the riverbank. There are also pines, banyan trees, a'ba (which is not planted and grows in rocky places), idioko and other shrub trees in the vicinity though many were cut for brick burning (Apparently, plastic bottles can be used as an alternative for both burning fuel and creating longlasting construction bricks with soil inside). Some people catch fish called njorofi which resemble ngenjia [silverfish]. Only GOD could have assembled these Oluko rocks together, not Nephilim giants; HIS name be praised forever!

Visitors enjoying Abairo Falls (Ayivu)...
Downstream, Abairo Falls which is about 16 metres high (according to Acile though I calculated close to only 10 from waterdrop onto gorge rocks to pool surface) has a bigger, more swimmable rock-pool with sandy bottom even if rocks with various shapes surround it. The cement-steps leading you safely to the base have about five zigzag bends. When you reach down, you will appreciate the majesty of the giant rock on the other side towering above you higher than a double-decker bus, six-storeyed building or big-wheeled Caterpillar truck used for carrying rocks in a quarry, but not higher than Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa nor bigger than Zum(w)a Rock in Niger State near Madalla and north of Abuja (Nigeria): Ancient Nigerian ancestors came to the Highest Monolith on Earth in the middle of their country to catch "ezu" [guineafowls] hence the name of the rock; I guess they would love this Lugbara heritage site too because it has what they were looking for. Abairo is open all-week, but most people visit on Sundays; Somalis hold parties on Saturdays. Fun-lovers and stress-shakers come for tranquil picnics, environmental vibe, birthday parties, tours (In 2024, around five schools came), meditation, photoshooting, relaxation, laid-back enjoyment, birdwatching, fresh air, romantic dates, change of atmosphere from noisy car movements and restless urban activity, etc. The preferred time is after 3pm; watching the sun set at Abairo can be a wonderful experience! The mornings are also not bad as you enjoy London Bread daddies from Gulu or any other edibles you fancy. Arise Center can provide food for you if you alert them early (The spot is visible in the West at the top of the hill). The Abairo area is quite cold in the morning like Kabale (Kigezi). Do not get close to the steep cliff! Acile discovered the falls around 2006, but started digging up the side in 2007; ten years later, the place was used as a tourist attraction. A Whiteman saw the horsetail, punchbowl-esque waterfalls while flying over Arua and bought land near Abairo Falls from Acile and his family. Security is not yet enough for sleeping at the venue, but if people come with their own lights and watchers, they may stay for the night. The river flows all year long, though during the rainy seasons, the water gushes farther than expected and covers the swimming area. City Government plans to build a reservoir and generate hydro-power. Acile has eight children (three boys including Jacob Yuma and five girls including Delila Agazu). Animals you might spot here are: eto [Translated from Lugbara: rabbits], ndiria [small bush animals resembling goats], etc. Birds include kolikolia [black and white birds], ope [wild guineafowls with dark feathers], a'bulo (feed on ori ifi [seeds], anya [millet], etc and are very many), nderaperio (with yellow beaks), small blue and brown birds, yudu (all-red birds), vultures which only eat meat, okoloa (which build big houses and suck tree sap), ohelu [crested cranes] fly in large numbers from Ajai Game Reserve in Madiland to Congo during August (the 8th month) when groundnuts are gathered (They do not like the dry season), kapio (many in Arivu - down South), etc. Snakes are rare. Acile wants an itinerary calendar scheduled for visits. River Asa comes from Ragem Catholic Church, grows bigger in Onzivu, Muni, Bangiriyo, Ambeko and then reaches Wandi - similar in name to the trading centre in Terego because people who settled near the waterfalls came from Terego. Lugbara would gather to dig and mushrooms cooked in ala [groundnut paste] was their payment: You dip the mushroom in soup and give to another person. Someone dipped and swallowed causing a conflict; he's the one who left Terego and settled in Oyufi Village, Wandi Ward. MUNGU awa drileba ndundu [GOD has distributed blessings differently]. Acile was a District Engineer at Arua District Local Government, then got sent to Soroti where they bathed for 200 Ugandan Shillings at a waterplace that reminded him of his own at home. When he returned, he worked on it. Acile wishes musicians film their videos at his site. Candia the Orphan (Lugbara film) actually has footage from Abairo Falls.

Water cleanses, quenches thirst and takes bitterness away! H2O stands for Double Happiness & Oxygen...

African, refreshing, unchained, amazing...
Aniako adreni ayiko ku [Ignorance is not bliss]! I cannot believe I lived in Arua since Y2K, read about Abairo Falls and even moved around Oluko and Ambeko many times (on foot plus bike), but never stepped foot at the iconic Oluko Falls for over two decades simply because I imagined it was too small to tickle my fancy (I was dead wrong: It's good enough); the final discovery was awe-inspiring! Whenever life pushes you down and you fall, get back up! Sometimes, the Abairo rock-pool is so clear on the edge that you can see the riverbed. I wish my majestically tall, comprehensive Senior 4 Geography Teacher (Miss Kabasinguzi) at SMACK had taught me about Abairo, in addition to Rhinelands, Tennessee Valley, New York, etc. On Friday morning, I hardened my heart (No sleep until I finished posting before sunrise, felt strong like Samson the Nazirite of GOD) and created a Wikipedia article for Abairo Falls; didn't even find Miriadua (but created it too on Sunday morning) nor any other from West Nile. Arua is indeed sweet and excellent; no matter the size, small or medium! Leave your burdens and worries behind!

"Kati ndaba" [Luganda for: Now I see]!


Miriadua Falls 
(the Most Mentioned and arguably Most Popular Waterfalls in West Nile) is found on River Oluffe in Maracha about 20 minutes to half an hour by vehicle northwards from Arua City and after Okokoro plus the curvaceous Kijomoro Bend, but before Koyi. At a junction with a signpost of Kakwa Cope Centre (found 200 metres inwards), you cut right and move farther for 2 kilometres until you see Ambidro Health Centre III with about four to five houses roofed with blue ironsheets near each other on your left; cut into the road before them and move 400 metres until a gate. There are pools for swimming down ahead from the falls. Stepped there on Sunday 23rd March 2025 at the beginning of spring and was amazed by the size of the rocks as viewed from downstream and at the top; the water actually moves through about 100 metres of rock before the main fall, absolutely amazing! The rocks tilt northwards, so water flows closer to the farther end and onto the right when less, not all over the place. There is even a cave at the bottom below the topmost point as the whitewater splashes. A man from the city was fishing for small tilapia-like fish called lopo using a hookwire on a stick while two boys scooped water with plastic containers to catch their own. Three brothers (younger two looked like twins) skilfully swam naked downstream as girls washed clothes midstream and goats grazed uphill. Before the location where water finally falls, some women dried cassava on the southern section of the river channel where water did not reach because of the dry season. When rain starts, it is impossible to find that space. Several other people especially youthful males passed by. I felt like (Riccardo) Calafiori at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 2025 season.

Miriadua Yi-kuru (Maracha)...
Miriadua Falls is a great relaxing venue for parties, dates, picnics, festivals and corporate outings...

Lake Rokoze (which I prefer calling Lake Maracha) is a 21st Century crater lake in Nyoro, Maracha created by CICO while they constructed the Koboko Highway...

Olewa Yi-kuru (Terego)...
Olewa Falls
 is found in Terego on River Enyau which starts in Ezuku Forest Reserve (Vurra) and ends in River Nile...

Agoi Falls is found in Vurra...

Dabaracha Falls (Koboko)...
Dabaracha Falls
 is found in Ludara Subcounty of Koboko...

Agbinika Yi-kuru...
Agbinika Falls
 is on River Kochi in Yumbe...

Ngbungbu Falls is found on River Ora in Ugudu Village, Atyak Subcounty, Zombo; the Kebu together with the Alur and Lendu are custodians...

Arua is a sweet and excellent (First Class) Business Hub at the Heart of West Nile (Northwestern Uganda), home sub-region of the 3rd President of the Pearl of Africa whose family stayed near Arua Airfield (around Mutukula). The main town got this name (meaning "In Prison") from a medium-sized rock elevation next to which Belgian colonialists built a prison before 1914; they buried prisoners in Barifa Forest on the East. At the summit are telecom masts plus satellites, broadcast stations, houses and a National Water reservoir. Arua Hill has a superfly, 360-degree panoramic view of Lugbaraland (from Ayivu to DR Congo, Maracha, Terego, Vurra and beyond). Other places to visit include Kakwaland, Aringa Chiefdom, Madiland, Alurland, South Sudan and the rest of Uganda...

(CC) Angu Neza [Sightseeing] by Aiko

Monday

Climbing Trees From the STEM


Dreams come true. Imagination is free and limitless; dreaming is a luxury:

Ziplining from Arua Hill to Barifa Forest...

Artificial Intelligence making movies as Artificial Dreams; some call them hallucinations...

Arua Metropolis from Madi Okollo to Koboko and Yumbe...

Solar-powered Rainwater velomobiles; maybe Martin Anguandia, the Unique Rider (0789-043218) in Ambeko (East of Arua City) can believe me...

Drone-fishing on Lake Maracha (Rokoze)...

West Nile Museum...

Lugbara AI (transcribing and translating Lugbarati)...

Flyover in Maracha...

Minimalist Hydropower plants...

Merry-go-round electricity...

Trailer power...

Lugbara Kari Hall with a view of Mt. Wati...

Secretary House (Tallest Building)...

Agofe Tower...

Angela's Lounge...

Para-net (Another level of internet connectivity)...

Cutting grass using the sun...

Wind turbines west of Arua City...


(CC) Edi

Angu Neza [Sightseeing]


Hotels Near Arua

WEST NILE
Bha da sende tawuni-a tipasi [Money was poured in town using a tipper]

GOD is great! Arua is a sweet and excellent (First Class) Business Hub at the Heart of West Nile (Northwestern Uganda). The name (meaning "In Prison") comes from a medium-sized ridge located at the south-end of the main street (Arua Avenue); Belgian colonialists built a prison near this rock elevation before 1914 and would bury prisoners in Barifa Forest on the eastside. Arua Hill (with several masts) has a 360-degree panoramic view of Lugbaraland from Ayivu to DR Congo, Maracha, Terego, Vurra and beyond. Although hundreds in number, below are a few places you can sleep, chill and/ or eat in near Arua (Sweetest Place on Earth): 

6A Hotel in Manibe welcomes you to Arua at the end of Koboko Highway.
Arua Hill Hotel is a headturner waiting for its time.
Big Star Hotel on Wadriff Road (Osu Village) provides unique, genuine, heartfelt hospitality.
Desert Breeze Hotel (Tallest Building in Arua) is "upper echelon" and found on Odaa Close near Osu River.
Dreamland Hotel in Kuluva Suburb (about 15 minutes by vehicle from Arua City) makes you live your dreams.
Eripak Resort lets you enjoy River Enyau which supplies Arua tapwater.
Golden Courts on Circular Road adds a midas touch to hospitality in Arua.
Harriton Hotel is luxuriously elegant on Arua Avenue in the Orient Bank Building.
Heritage Courts and Park are veterans in the business.
Hilltop takes you superhigh.
Hotel Africana is under construction on Nebbi Highway after Ewuata but before Eruba.
Hotel Arua, close to Ociba Coast was known as Hotel California in the 2000s.
Hotel Pacific, near the Noble Unit Building, is the Oldest Hotel in Arua City.
Jershem Hotel is located next to the Helsinki (Finland) 2005 World Championships Steeplechase gold-medalist Dorcus Inzikuru's gift from Government.
Le Confidentiel lights up the night in Eruba Suburb.
Le Tsuba Grande Hotel is a pristine, skyblue-balconied and grey-walled attraction on Plot 15 Circular Road in Anyafio Village.
Prince Palace in Kuluva (Vurra) is another getaway.
Rose Villa Hotel is like a tycoon's hideout off Weatherhead Park Lane.
Royal Crane Resort illuminates the Oluko Road Junction.
Santa Maria - behind OPM (Office of the Prime Minister) takes your comfort as its priority.
Slumberland welcomes you to Arua, down west from the main roundabout.
Tropical Suites Hotel on Nebbi Highway used to be called Hillview and is connected to Royal Crane Resort.
White Castle Hotel welcomes you to Ewuata Suburb.
White Rhino Hotel is rundown in Twenty25, but used to be a lively 3-star hotel during homeboy Idi Amin's regime...

Sunday

Ongo [Music]

The Devil Doesn't Have All the Good Music

ARUA
'Tis so sweet to trust in JESUS!
GOD is great! HE created music for happiness (Job 38:4-7) before HE laid the earth's foundation. The paramount purpose of music should be to thank (Ephesians 5:18-20) and worship GOD, nothing else. Jubal (son of Lamech) is the first musician mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 4:21); he played stringed instruments and pipes. Meanwhile, King David formalised the use of music in worship services of Israel. His son - the wise King Solomon wrote 1,005 songs (1st Kings 4:32). According to Joseph Nsubuga (former Devil agent), a church choir that is "together as one" can cause the glory of GOD to descend onto an earthly altar. That is what the Devil strives to prevent by causing conflicts among choir members. It was Carman's four year old song "Serve the LORD" from The Absolute Best album that made me re-evaluate my life on Tuesday 2nd December 1997 and try to find GOD plus truth in the Bible by myself. I kept wondering why I was messed up (irritable, disrespectful, horny, hateful, hypocritical, covetous, etc) and the world too (with thefts; drunkardness; fights; prostitution; Roman Catholics removed the 2nd Commandment from their Bible, prayed to dead saints plus changed the Sabbath Day to Sunday; etc). Music can convert souls; it's not an ordinary art.
At the turn of the millenium, Hillsong from Sydney (Australia) stood out for me as a Gospel music powerhouse. Despite all the accusations spoken against musicians (Technically, everyone is a sinner), I never let defamation influence my judgement of good songs especially the ones that give me goosepimples plus make me want to worship GOD in truth eg from Eschatos Bride to Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) choirs, Darlene Zschech, Reuben Morgan, David Ware, Taya Smith, Brooke Ligertwood, CeCe Winans, Yolanda Adams, Deitrick Haddon, Wilson Bugembe, Anglican Youth Praise, Rachel Namubiru, Brian Lubega, Matt Redman, Kari Jobe, Fiona Mukasa, Judith Babirye, J-Hope Band in West Nile, Gospel Armour, T.I.G. (Trust in GOD), the list is endless. Others sing for commercial reasons, but if their songs move your soul to worship GOD in truth, you can take that! Lena Price left clubbing because of soul hunters and decided to sing for JESUS. I asked a friend in the choir at Victory City Church Ntinda which group sings best and she mentioned Bethel Music in America. You can add Red Rocks Worship, Elevation Worship, Planetshakers, Housefires, JESUS Culture, etc. The Collective UG which meets monthly also has some great non-denominational Gospel sessions. Miracle Centre Cathedral's Proclaim Music has really grown despite everything exposed against their church leader. Even JESUS was accused of getting power from Beelzebub (Prince of the devils). Agape Christian Fellowship Arua is serious too.
Larry Norman asked in one of his songs that "Why should the Devil have all the good music?" because he didn't believe GOD disliked Rock & Roll. During performances, Larry preached between his rock songs, many of which were about JESUS (whom he referred to as The Rock). He tried to reclaim rock music for the Messiah who saved him at five. JCTV (JESUS Christ Television) has a volatile knack for playing Christian Rock. Hiphop/ Rap, R&B plus reggae are also not considered holy genres but some artistes use them for modern Gospel to reach the youth faster than ancient hymns. Secular musicians who have turned from worldly music to Gospel include Ma$e (American), Bamboo (Kenyan), Grace Osei - formerly Irene Logan (Liberian-born Ghanaian), Chidinma Ekile (Nigerian), Desire Luzinda (Ugandan), etc. Others do crossovers like Dionne Warwick (Whitney Houston's cousin who won six Grammys); one foot in secular, the other in Gospel. In 2008, I predicted that "Anfukula" by Grace Nakimera would be the Best Video at the Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) Awards and it happened exactly as I felt it. She had amazing grace on her and a decade later when she turned around to sing only Gospel, I was happy for Nakimera who said, "After finding the Lord, am contented that this is the right path for me." Dressing half naked is Satan's will for musicians to make people lust and commit adultery in their hearts (Matthew 5:28). What's wrong with hiding your breasts and thighs while singing? Even angels (sons of GOD) were attracted by beautiful hair; you might as well cover your crown while praying. The first wet dream I saw in my life (at 17 years old) was Toni Braxton; I loved her music because it reminded me of the first girl I loved like myself. Some musicians dress skimpily as a stunt to attract fans, but end up summoning invisible friends (spirit spouses) into the lives of their admirers like witchcraft through the eyes. Even if the hardworking plus lyrically-rich lovebird Sheebah Karungi wore a gomesi, hijab or long dress like Adele, her songs would still sound nice but I wish she sang Gospel though professes to be Muslim. Is singing about love misuse of music; how come Song of Songs is in the Bible? The Devil doesn't have all the good music; just more skin (sex appeal), vulgarity, blasphemy, unrighteousness, materialism, idolatry and contempt.
During a Sunday 15th December 2024 radio interview on Voice of Life (100.9 FM in Arua), Gospel musician Alice Drijaru Asedri revealed that she was offered sende angiri [Translated from Lugbara: a lot of money] to sing songs without the name of JESUS so that they can be played and promoted on American stations. Drijaru refused to sing lies about love (eg I miss you; Because of you, I don't sleep; no appetite; etc) since GOD gave her the gift: YESU fe mani ongo 'di ki ni. Aziri-a, ma ma laria, o'du koria, ongo ni lu imu orobi-a [JESUS gave me these songs. In other times, am resting, sleeping, music just comes in a dream]. In Heaven, Satan was Ongo ma Drile [Head of Music] before being thrown down and he brings the challenge of resentment, hatred, no love, awoko [anger], asi onzi [bad heart] plus competition among West Nile Gospel musicians. You have to be a Prisoner of JESUS and do things differently from the world. The Bible shows that Lucifer was anointed as a guardian cherub (Ezekiel 28:14) and every precious stone adorned him; cherubs protected the entrance to Eden, the Garden of GOD. That's probably why the Serpent could tempt Eve. The Red Dragon does not need external instruments to sing; Satan can produce any compelling sound. The success of various musicians is actually attributed to the Devil's aid eg Michael Jackson (whose song "Stranger in Moscow [1997]" can be quite soothing when feeling rejected); Jose Chameleone (his very repulsive song "Kipepeo" is considered the Devil's Anthem by ex-Satanist Allan Kasirye); Robert Johnson (legendary American Bluesman who disappeared from public view and returned with unbelievable talent); Mowzey Radio (who sang with Weasel in the Goodlyfe Crew and made 22 Gospel songs before he would be killed); Beyonce (who has a church mass where her songs are played); Doja Cat; Lil Nas X; Ruger; etc. Musicians who have confessed that they sold their souls to the Devil include Kanye West (though he also released an album entitled "JESUS is King"); Alien Skin (who rattled the Ugandan music industry by praising the Devil instead of GOD for releasing him from bondage); Katy Perry (who features briefly at the end of my Favourite Song entitled "Goodbye For Now" by P.O.D. - a Christian nu metal band based in California); Eminem ("Say Goodbye to Hollywood"); etc. No matter what you have sung before, sing for JESUS now, give your heart to Him like Bebe Cool says in "Kanyimbe" alongside Crystal Fabulous, Tickie Tah and Luther T (Produced by Legend P, Delite Studio); imagine explicit musicians like Jay-Z or Rick Ross sang only Gospel! Good beats, bad lyrics! In the near future, Artificial Music (AM) might challenge the Devil's prowess plus use secular beats to sync lyrics that worship only GOD; not money, cars nor any other thing. Sing the praises of the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what HE has done (Psalm 9:11)! JESUS is the Way!

Wednesday

Voice of Life (100.9 FM)

Voice of Life (VOL) is a Ugandan Christian broadcast station (accessible via 100.9 FM and various internet streaming sites eg streema, steprimo, etc) that first aired on Thursday 27th November 1997 in Jiako Suburb of Arua City but is currently located on Arua Hill (North face) at Plot M47 Independence or Uhuru Road, west of Hilltop Hotel. DIGUNA (a German organisation) is also found near it.

VOL is "O'duko mini ecozu Asi 'bazu drinia ra ri [Translated from Lugbara: The Voice you can Trust]". Though mainly a Lugbara-English station, it also broadcasts in Aringa (Low Lugbara), Madi, Kakwa and Alur (because of proximity) plus sometimes Luganda which is Uganda's Most Spoken Indigenous Language outside Swahili. The station's combination logo has a red dot in the centre on top of a green mast encircled by three green line arcs; the outer one bends right and forms a straight horizontal topline under which is written Voice of Life, then FM 100.9 below it (or 100.9 Voice of Life FM Arua) in white sans fonts within a green rectangular panel. The motto appears below the name.

"I listen all the time (All day long). I listen all day long..."

"My feel-good station; makes me feel good... They play all the major hits (Music radio)... I love... We love your station; it's great! Thanks for listening..."

The word of GOD is a seed which VOL broadcasts or sows; the listeners are the harvest.

"We wake you up from bed. We take you to work, bring you home and lay you back to bed. (Silina mukwano nga ono YESU [Luganda for: I do not have a friend like this one JESUS]); the Voice you can trust, all day!"

During Twenty22, Laban Econi was the Station Manager.

In Twenty24, VOL closed at 1am after midnight and reopened at 5am before sunrise with devotions; there was news at 7am plus announcements and in Lugbara at 7:30am. Preaching shows on weekdays were broadcast at 9 (Insight for Living with Chuck Swindle) and 10am (Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah, repeats at 10pm) and had Mile Ziza [Eye opening] in between before Ejonga Aringa gari at 10:30am hosted by John Ayile (Station Manager) or Saviour. News in English was at 11:30am plus announcements; Adungu Sawa at midday (playing Lugbara Church music using traditional instruments); E'yo Laza [News in Lugbara] was at 1pm; Sports at 1:15pm plus Lunchhour Devotion at 1:45 to 2pm. The afternoon Soultimes from 1pm was steered by sweet voices eg Charity (the Veteran), Claudia (Newsreader with polished accent), my favourite Grace who also does Sports, etc; Lingala music played at 3pm. On Mondays at 4pm, there was Scripture Stories, then Aiza [Prayers]/ Okuza [Gathering] or Kanisa on Fridays (instead of Ongo Anzi Akua 'Diari pi Dri) followed by Hits & Beats at 5pm with Emmanuel Feta who played upbeat, jamming songs and Reverend Captain Aleni at sunset on Tuesdays. More English news came at 7pm before the Bridge at 9pm to closure. Weekends had different programming including Education Hour after 9am; Mali Nyakuni at 10:30am; show for Anzi Ode after 1pm news; Sports, Youth and South Sudanese Refugee Talkshows on Saturday afternoon; Sunday Halfhour Gospel at 9:30am with Pastor Norman Acidri from Arua Full Gospel; Church Service from random churches in the West Nile Diocese at 10:30 to 11:30am; Sunday Delight at 5pm in Kakwa; Pastor Benjamin Nebechukwu (Nigerian who moved to Uganda) at 10pm; etc.

E'yo Mbe Ma Ti'bi 'Bo [Issues Have Licked My Soup] used to be a very compelling show where people discuss various problems in studio and through on-air phonecalls. It was moved to Sunday night.

The Love Clinic with Dr. Love (John Milton Anguyo, first Director of UCU Ringili Campus) on Mondays at 8pm then Sunday was also much loved because love is the greatest thing. He moved to Westnile TV and continued with his work healing relationships.

Despite being Anglican-Church-founded, VOL hosts shows by Pentecostal pastors too eg Times of Refreshing on Mondays at 8pm with Geofrey Israel Opio, David Emazu, Peter Galabuzi, etc. I do not hear Roman Catholic Church music played often on VOL, but it networks with Catholic-founded Radio Pacis in Ediofe.

Live Anglican Church events like Archbishop visit services are broadcast on air. For science enthusiasts over 343 metres away from Mvara Cathedral for example, you can notice how radio waves travel faster than the loud sound in the air. Before that distance though, there might be a lag behind the real sound. Nevertheless, radio waves are faster than TV by a few seconds; noticed that during the 2002 FA Cup Final (Double Happy-iness).

With a variety of programs including affiliate broadcasts from Trans World Radio (TWR) which started in 1954, talkshows, devotionals, lessons, church services, music bonanzas, children's programs, news, live events and so on, Voice of Life has touched so many lives across numerous imaginary borders; no VISA.

GOD is great! I first came to Arua (Sweetest Place on Earth) on 1st February Y2K, so my enlightenment about the station began around that time. There was Radio Paidha in Nebbi, but I never listened to it. Apparently, there was also a radio operated by SPLA rebels farther north. VOL was the pioneer FM station in Arua (West Nile) after Capital (which came to Arua over two decades later) and Sanyu took over Kampala since 1992. For extra infotainment, I usually tuned in to Radio Uganda on Medium Wave plus a foggy variety on Short Wave eg BBC, Deutsche Welle, Voice of America, Adventist World Radio, Radio India (though understood almost nothing), China Radio International, etc. I even built my own antenna receivers using wires and Pure Mathematics. Some nights, I would pick Kiss FM Nairobi so clearly that I wondered if I was a genius yet Radio Production was my Worst Performed Course Unit at UCU along with English Composition (Got C which is 55 to 59 percent), heehee! You do not need very special antenna equipment to pick VOL in Arua; it's free. All you need is a good power supply to your radio whether WENRECo, dry cells or solar batteries.

I've heard VOL very clear like crystal as far as my ancestral home in Ojapi (Maracha East Constituency, about 1 hour by car northwards from Arua Hill). The signal is so strong that it covers a radius of 200 kilometres reaching Bunyoro, Acholiland, DR Congo and South Sudan.

My maternal grandmother named Oripa Airu (1922-2008), wife of Reverend Onesimus Banito Inima who died in 1983 while Parish Priest at Ajara Church of Uganda, put a preset on her grey Aztec radio; there was no other station she listened to besides VOL. One thing I marvelled at about her is that she only read her black-covered Lugbara Bible; no other book.

In 2004 while still fresh at Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mukono campus studying Mass Communication (though later specialised in Print Journalism when I reached 3rd Year), I worked at VOL for only one week during a vacation in Arua. My role was to find news and I brought three stories; the third piece was from BBC: Sharapova beats Serena Williams in Wimbledon Final. Can you imagine, I had written my application letter in red ink? The proprietor Canon Isaac Anguyo (also the Managing Director of Here Is Life) told me while sitted behind his office desk that red ink is used by teachers for marking. I probably thought I was being creative by using the colour of JESUS blood, but returned home to rewrite the letter and got placement. I loved their collection of Sunday Vision magazines. Even though I wasn't being paid, I still enjoyed the meetings with the news team leader Joseph Dradria who I rated highly. My absconding from work became a topic because a campus yearmate (named Jacqueline) who later married Jonathan Driliga (Newscaster) told me there was someone who worked at VOL briefly; that person was of course me. My excuse was actually constant headaches which I managed several years later by reducing sugar intake. I had tried wearing tinted glasses, cleaning earwax, drinking lots of water, rest, etc in vain. Then I tried food elimination method and zeroed down on sugar. The other radio station I worked at briefly for academic marks was 96.6 Spirit FM Mukono; a dream told me those who work there like Samuel Ouga do the work angels would have done. I understood that as messengers; Gabriel is like a patron angel or mentor.

In the Church of JESUS, there are guides, helpers, miracle workers, administrators, musicians, intercessors, bishops, deacons, elders, pastors, tongue-speakers, apostles, teachers, prophets, healers and evangelists. Everyone is gifted differently; play your role and let others play theirs!

Music is the only thing that was created in Heaven. The Devil was put in charge of it and defeats everyone in it hands down because he was anointed, but he didn't create ziki. GOD created music for only one purpose: Worship. We ought to use music to worship GOD. What I adore about VOL is its exclusivity; it plays strictly church-oriented music, not worldly garbage (Voice of Death) filled with vulgarity, pride, obscenity, cursing, idolatry, materialism, contempt, disrespect, ridicule, lamentation, lust, greed, separation, ngiringiri [conflict], negativity, hatred and other unwanted things. There are so many worldly songs with very decent themes, but are still not played unlike other stations in the region, which is commendable. Focussing on GOD is the highest entertainment; that is why I consider Voice of Life the best broadcast from West Nile.

Can something good come from Lugbaraland?

'Bu-a 'dale [In Heaven there], there will be praise and worship only, day and night; training begins here. If Christian music bores or annoys you, then you need to exorcise the nefarious spirits making you feel that way. 

If you are looking for Lugbara Gospel eg Trust in GOD (T.I.G.), Borderline Music, J-Hope Band, Dedicated2GOD, Oneway Music, Lady Victoria, Hope 2 Reach, Winnie Kushi, Church Voice Group (CVG), Ken & Job, Hope In Christ (HIC), Emmaboy, Alice Drijaru Asedri, Lord Is My Power (L.I.P.), Mungufeni (aka Feni Wym), Vincent Embati, Gospel Armour and so on, then VOL is the place to be. 

Secular musicians can crossover to Gospel like Ma$e, Desire Luzinda, Leni Price, etc. Larry Norman asked in one of his songs: Why should the Devil have all the good music? In future, AI will use secular beats to compose praise for GOD. If human disciples keep quiet, then stones and aya [wires] will shout out loudly.

Wulira webangamba nti swag ebuze [Luganda 4: Hear how they tell me that swagger has disappeared], yet this JESUS-style is easy, ta-ta, tatata, ta!

VOL introduced Erica Mukisa (The Devil is Bad) to me before the Covid-19 hoax pandemic and since I was born in Jinja like her with plans to practise magic, I understood and believed whatever she was saying, no matter how fantastical her narrations seemed. I did not go under water, but saw weird things both physically and in spirit, even met the Devil in a white t-shirt and blood-red trousers on a deserted Buganda Road one lonely morning around 2006. Consequently, I transcribed her recordings.

"GOD has given us a freedom of choice, but what you choose determines your destiny. If you choose JESUS, yours is eternal life..."

I use VOL among other audio sources to create my small to medium Lugbara Language Model for Artificial Intelligence.

Tell me who knows a peaceful place where I can go when am feeling low? Arua Heal (read Hill). If you have a problem, then just look up to the sky! GOD solves problems because HE is big; magnify nothing above HIM! 

JESUS is for everybody!

Mi oja asi [Change heart/ Repent]!

Numbers to call Voice of Life FM include 0772-453045, 0707-315714 or 0791-114009!

Support the station by giving to 0783-999598 (William Mugisha) in VOL's drive to get new equipment including solar panels...

VOL Anniversary 2025 Anthem (Lyrics):
-
O'duko ecozu asi 'bazuri,
Eri Voice of Life;
(VOL at 28)!

CHORUS:
Redio, redio amani, O'duko Idri ni, fe piri ni.
Redio, redio o'bini, O'duko Idri ni, fe piri ni.

Eh, since 1997 (Nineteen ninety seven)
When the LORD blessed us, 
With the first radio and a mighty one.
Asanti sana, we thank You, JESUS,
For this great radio, You've given us! 
Yeh!

HOOK:
We celebrate, celebrate,
(Celebrate)
28 years, I celebrate!
(Let's jubilate!)
We jubilate, jubilate,
(Jubilate!)
28 years, let's jubilate!

CHORUS:
Redio, redio amani, O'duko Idri ni, fe piri ni.
Redio, redio o'bini, O'duko Idri ni fe piri ni.

077245, 3045; call to your radio, VOL! 
Voice of Life, O'duko Idri ni,
Eri lu 'ba asi omi,
Le ama iri o'du driavusi, ada!
Yeah! This is 100.9 FM, Voice of Life,
And this is the Voice we can trust.

CHORUS:
Redio, redio amani, O'duko Idri ni, fe piri ni.
Redio, redio o'bini, O'duko Idri ni fe piri ni.

For your news, for your sermons,
For your sports news, for your announcements and for music;
(Tune to Voice of Life!)
Ah!
For your talkshows, for your prayers, for your teachings,
Sensitizations, children's programs,
(Tune to Voice of Life!)

(Emvu anzi ru, awizi, oku akaru,
Mi ama asi ati, redio Voice of Life.) 2X
Thus far the Lord has brought us,
We trust Him for many more years.
He said: Fear not!
I am with you!
The Voice we trust.

(We celebrate, ay!)
We celebrate, celebrate,
(Celebrate!)
28 years, let's celebrate!
(We jubilate)
We jubilate, jubilate,
(Jubilate!)
28 years, (Jubilate!) let's jubilate!

HalleluYAH!
Ada, mi oja ma edri ni,
Mi ina mani MUNGU ni, Voice of Life 
(Voice of Life).
Ovu drio, anini YESU ku.
Anini MUNGU ku,
Iko ma aza ra (Ah ah, ah ah).
Ma esu saa 'disi drileba, ayiko ra.
'Yo lu mani e'yo nderi,
Ma oja asi ra.
E'yo nderi fe mani pata, ayiko,
Fe mani drileba, ayiko si,
Voice of Life si.

CHORUS:
Redio, redio amani, O'duko Idri ni, fe piri ni.
Redio, redio o'bini, O'duko Idri ni fe piri ni.

We celebrate, celebrate,
(Celebrate)
28 years, I celebrate!
(We jubilate)
We jubilate, jubilate,
(Jubilate!)
28 years, (We jubilate) let's jubilate!

Eh, 
Ma-i, ma esu pata 'bo,
Ma esu pata nde, VOLU dri.
O'duko 'di ica mavu pere mani onzi 'yeria.
YESU nze ma 'bo,
VOLU dri.

O'duko pata niri olupiri (VOL),
O'duko asianzu niri erepiri (VOL)
O'duko atita niri olupiri (VOL)
O'duko pata niri olupiri (VOL)
Oku yi ma redio (VOL)
Agupi ma redio (VOL)
Eh? (VOL)
Eh eh? (VOL)

We celebrate, ay! (VOL)
We celebrate, celebrate,
(Celebrate)
28 years, I celebrate!
(We jubilate)
We jubilate, jubilate,
(Jubilate!)
28 years, (Jubilate!) let's jubilate!

O'bi yi ma redio (VOL)
Eh? (VOL)
O'duko asianzu niri erepiri (VOL)
Akini ma erini emi ku yo (VOL),
VO, what? (VOL).

CHORUS:
Redio, redio amani, O'duko Idri ni, fe piri ni.
Redio, redio o'bini, O'duko Idri ni fe piri ni.

END

YESU ni Geri [JESUS is the Way]!

(CC) AikoGraphics 2003-Now

Desert Breeze (Arua)

Desert Breeze Hotel (Arua) - located on Plot 20 Oda Close, half a kilometre east of the Arua Post Office is a luxurious oasis of comfort and relaxation in Arua City. It sits along the eastern bank of River Osu which starts at the Golf Course and has Osu Village plus the Arua Hospital lagoon as its backdrop. Offering a wide assortment of facilities eg non-smoking rooms, free wi-fi, gym, secure parking, trustworthy concierge, safe luggage storage, DStv, bar, refreshing restaurant, airport shuttle (pick-up and drop-off), business centre, conference halls, event planning venue (eg wedding receptions, etc), room service, 24-hour front desk, seasonal outdoor pool, the hotel entices all kinds of guests (tourists, travellers, visitors, partygoers, researchers, etc). This cozy property in Anyafio West provides well-kempt gardens (similar to theme parks), a pleasant ambiance, memorable experiences, the finest catering consisting of local and international cuisines plus tranquil lodging or accommodation equipped with intercoms and air-conditioning.


Enjoy a perfect halfway stopover between South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo, where GOD's bright sun meets serenity!

Tourist attractions near DBH include: West Nile Golf Course, Arua Hill Stadium, Arua Hospital, Arua City Tower (Monument), Arua Prison (on Ediofe Road), Emmanuel Cathedral Mvara, Oluko Falls (Abairo and Oluporoporo), Miriadua Falls (about half an hour by vehicle in Maracha), Ajai Game Reserve in Madi Okollo, Mt. Wati in Terego, Salia Musala in Koboko, Biku Church (Smallest on Earth) in Nebbi, Pakwach Bridge, Lodonga Basilica in Yumbe, Mt. Oce in Moyo, etc.

No matter what you are going through, sometimes life is breezy! I guess every Angela would love to lounge or lodge here.

While filming a stocktaking, investigative documentary on "Stealing From the Sick" for BBC Africa Eye, my Kalinabiri Primary School OB named Solomon  Serwanjja (who worked at NBS) stayed at Desert Breeze. They actually met up with some medical crooks in a residential close not far from their abode.

When you pass by Oda Road which is off Weatherhead Park Lane, you can tell that there is a body of water (definitely a swimming pool) in the Desert Breeze compound while many people within the wall fence shout, clap, celebrate or applaud in any way because sound reveberates as it hits water (Learnt that in Ordinary Level Physics). A hard-to-please Muganda OB from Advanced Level working for an insurance company stationed in Arua told me he spent some time at Desert Breeze Hotel, paying 90,000 UGX per night for days (Something I couldn't afford nor get sponsored for) and rated it "upper echelon" as he searched for residentials near the Central Business District (CBD). This is a guy who told me that I did not know how to draw during Senior 6 yet our History yearmates unanimously called me "the Best Artist" in S5. However, one night after campus, he phoned (when I had just returned home to Kyebando Suburb of KLA City from my Editorial Cartooning job in Mukono) asking me to make his portrait. Why the turnaround? Thought his standards were too high; maybe he had seen an improvement in my hustle. I learnt from him that we should work hard until expensive becomes cheap. Train or practise until hard becomes easy!

Tuesday

Secular Musicians Who Changed to Gospel

It is so sweet to trust in JESUS that we sing for Him and His FATHER instead of other things like Money, success, enmity, hardships, abusive contempt, victory, separation, conflict, pleasure, fame, etc. Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person's mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts - murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander (Matthew 15:17-19). Why should I sell my soul to Lucifer to gain worldwide fame in music yet GOD gave him his abilities? Satan does not distribute talent. We are GOD-made, not Devil-made nor self-made; power and glory belongs to GOD alone, now and forever. JESUS said: Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before My FATHER in Heaven (Matthew 10:32). Honour GOD with your heart, not just lips! An invisible but seemingly angry hand slammed my Senior 4 desk one early evening as I revised my notes alone in class while singing "Sweetest Taboo" by Glamma Kid ft. Shola Ama (released the preceding year); I stopped immediately and never sang that song again though heard it several times after that sunset shock. The original sung by Sade in 1985 when I was one year old probably got inspiration from heroin drugs or sensual pleasure. Many former Devil worshippers report that the Devil is the Best Musician. Well, cherubim angels sing and since GOD anointed the king of Tyre as a guardian cherub (in Ezekiel 28), then arguably the Devil is rated super multi-platinum. Nasty, impure, bad-mouthed songs he inspires sound sweet and sometimes intelligently poetic, but are very poisonous and toxic underneath. Without pride and the desire to be worshipped, he could have entertained his Maker forever. Jose Chameleone's song "Kipepeo" is the Most Repulsive Music Video I have ever watched; Ex-Satanist Allan Kasirye called it the Devil's anthem (though I appreciate other fairer songs from Chamili). I strongly believe Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and self-censoring stations should ban the music video of "That's What I Want" by Lil Nas X; it is so devilishly misleading! Jay-Z (probably in Depeche Mode) once said: Music is a soundtrack to life. It records what humans go through, but we can cut out the fleshly (or worldly) part and focus on GOD instead. It was Carman's song "Serve The LORD" (released in 1993) that made me give my heart to JESUS on Tuesday 2nd December 1997 after singing in a Roman Catholic school chapel choir during S1; had never heard that song for 4 years. As an Anglican, I quit the Catholic choir without apologies: Why sing in the chapel yet my mouth was foul when outside? My mother used to warn me that she might call Kony to cut out my tongue because of the disrespectful things I said. Felt rotten inside plus hellbound and so like a cabbage, I silently tried to read the entire Bible (Had only finished the Book of Proverbs in Primary 7); wanted to figure out what was really wrong inside me. Around P4, I had wanted to grow up and form a music group like Boyz II Men with my streammates Ogwapit, Ntaki and Rokani. I knew very many secular songs. A Senior 2 classmate named Mukasa (whose parents went to UK and abandoned him in UG) actually told me that I got saved from vulgar language; even stopped singing some songs eg "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio. You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, "You shall not murder, and anyone  who murders will be subject to judgement." But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgement. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, "Raca," is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, "You fool!" will be in danger of the fire of hell (Matthew 5:21-22). What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them (Matthew 15:11). I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked (Psalm 39:1). Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3). Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues (Proverbs 10:19). Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of GOD, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice (Ephesians 4:29-31). The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell (James 3:6). Vulgarity is the language spoken in Hell; you cannot expect heavenly angels like Gabriel nor Michael to sing about indecent themes. Some preachers teach that you cannot play worship songs on a romantic date, but neither do they quote from Song of Songs in their sermons; which is more sacred? It's a Catch 22: Lust or passionate love between a man and woman is still viewed as taboo unless it involves marriage. Not every thought is meant to be uttered as lyrics. I have not been as blameless as Job since becoming a Savedee (and even composed a reconciliatory Ugandan reply to a secular American breakup song in Twenty10 because of what I had witnessed), but pray GOD cleanses me everyday as I fight the whispers and trials of Lucifer until I leave this Earth. With text-to-video Diffusion Transformer (DiT) models such as Google Lumiere and OpenAI's Sora, the future is very bright for praise and worship music videos. Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to JESUS: Teacher, rebuke Your disciples! "I tell you," He replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." (Luke 19:39-40). If we keep quiet, music-generating AI will worship GOD without ceasing. Below are some artistes with crossovers:

UNITED STATES

Al Green

Dionne Warwick

Josh Caterer

Kanye West (JESUS Is King album)

Little Richard

Ma$e

MC Hammer

Michelle Williams (from Destiny's Child)

No Malice (from Clipse)

Wanda Jackson...


NIGERIA

2Face Idibia (now 2Baba)

Banky W.

Chidinma Ekile

Chris Okotie

Ebenezer Obey

Mercy Chinwo

Nathaniel Bassey (Saxophonist)

Obiora Obiwon

Sonny Okosun

TY Bello (from Kush)...


GHANA

Grace Osei (formerly Irene Logan)...


KENYA

Amani

Bahati

Bamboo

Bruz Newton

Cannibal the Chosen

CeCe Sagini

Collo (from Kleptomaniax)

DNA

DNG

Juliani

Kenny Saint Brown

Lady Bee

Marya

Mr. Googz

Namtero Mdee

Size 8 (aka Linet Munyali)

Wahu

Willy Paul...


UGANDA

AK47

David Lutalo

Desire Luzinda

Gabbie Ntaate

Grace Nakimera

Kiddy Face

Lena Price

Mowzey Radio (from Goodlyfe Crew)

Pato (from Ngoni)

Ruyonga

Shammy K.

Sylver Kyagulanyi...


WEST NILE (Northwestern UGANDA)

J. M. Kennedy

Ningoman from Muni

Tonda from Kenya Zone

Young Pee in Sudan Zone...


What's the 411?

The Devil does not have the Best Music though we are forced to believe it; that is another lie from the Father of Lies. Gospel is better...

Get bornagain or die repenting!

At the Y-Corner, either you go left or right...

Kanyimbe, nyimbira YESU... (Bebe Cool)

GOD is great...

We look to YAHWEH...

Hosanna, halleluJAH...

JESUS is the Way!


Lugbara Gospel

Ongo MUNGU ni [Lugbara Gospel] is music sang in Lugbara or by Lugbara musicians to praise and worship GOD. Some Lugbara Gospel artistes include:


Alesi
Alice Drijaru Asedri
Borderline Music
Brother Kennedy
Brother Stephen
Chief Benard Ejidri
Children of GOD (C.O.G.)
Chosen Michael
Church Voice Group
CPT
CVG
D2G (Dedicated 2 GOD)
Emmaboy
Face To JESUS (F2J)
Faith In Christ
Fredo Angel
GFS
Godman Feni (Fefe)
Gospel Armour
Gospel Story
Harmony
Harvey Baguma
Hope 4 All
Hope In Christ (H.I.C.)
Hope Prudentia
Hope To Reach
J-Hope Band
JESUS For All (JFA)
Jonathan Econi
K. Isaiah
Ken & Job
Lady Gladys
Lady Harriet
Lady Victoria
LMK Band
LORD Is Power (L.I.P.)
Mungufeni (Benard, aka Feni Wym)
New Life in Christ
Oneway Music
Papa Jubilee
Princess Elyon
Royals
Salvation Sound
Saviour
Scovia Munguleni
Solomon the Prodigal Son
T.I.G. (Trust In GOD)
Vincent Embati
Winnie Kushi


(CC) YESU Magazine

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
Hon. George Andama M Nyadri South
Hon. Alex Kamure M Alikua/Yivu
Hon. Silvio Andama M Okokoro/Kijomoro
Hon. Grant Odiria M Okokoro T/C
Hon. Paskulina Ogavu F Nyadri Main
Hon. Anne Anguparu F Nyadri T/C
Hon. Sam Ezajobo (PWD) M Tara
Hon. Jack Adriko (Youth) M Kijomoro
Hon. Jesca Bako F Oluvu/Agai T/C
Opi Lambert Adroa (Terego) M E’dayi
Hon. Louis Oaja Aluo’di M Aiivu
Hon. Ejidio Ondia M Omugo
Hon. Richard Guma M Ayuri
Hon. Silivano Bujole M Katrini
Hon. Veronika Alioru F Leju T/C
Hon. Florence Driwaru F Adripi
Hon. Peter Amandu M Orivu
Hon. Abdulai Aliku Khemis M Onayi
Hon. Lorina Wa’diko F Olevu
Opi Nayon Adroni (Vurra) M Asivo
Hon. Augusto Rukuni M Logiri
Hon. Nelson Aleti M Arivu
Hon. Bethel Arivu Asianzu M Ajia
Hon. Babriel Ajia Andrua M Logiri
Hon. Roy Jimmy Jurua M Ajia
Hon. Diana Amviko F Vurra
Hon. Nola Okudeyo (PWD) F Tilevu
Hon. Godfrey Asiandu (Youth) M Arivu
Hon. Judith Amaniyo F Vurra