Lugbara Kari

Welcome to the House of Lugbara!

Lugbara Kari is the cultural institution of the Lugbara people in Uganda and the rest of the world. It plays a crucial role in fostering change by acting as a unifying body that preserves culture, resolves conflicts and promotes development initiatives. 

Portrait by Aiko

Arua 360 Degrees tried to find out the motives for removing the 4th Agofe (His Highness Manase Yuma Amuku) and discovered the following on Sunday 2nd November 2025:

Crazy greed and theft in broad daylight among opponents who think Yuma is not intelligent; they claim Ayivu have refused Opi Yuma though he was elected by over 50 clan leaders. Epife [Prime Minister] Ismael Tuku was not a chief during Agofe Elections, so he couldn't become the Paramount Chief, but keeps fighting Yuma. Politicians want the Agofe's issues to fail because Save Ayivu Initiative desires a district; subcounty offices left vacant. Functions of the Agofe are well spelt in Article 6 of the 2011 Constitution, but powers reduced in the 2024 Constitution. Reasons for removal of the Agofe from office are not the ones they gave (Article 13 of the Old Constitution). Tuku doesn't want Yuma to be signatory to the accounts.

Elected on 13th July 2023, Yuma ceased being the 4th Agofe Elect on 13th June 2025 though he continued attending functions as Agofe even in 2026. When Lugbara Kari (Recognised in 2015) is finally gazetted as a cultural institution after the wrangles between two factions end, it will receive 60 Million UGX per month like other kingdoms (Agofe will get 10 Million) from the Government of Uganda. The 4th Paramount Chief said: Ma nga dra ndri ru, adreni kabilo ru ku [I will die as a goat, not sheep] = I will die with a voice.

Yuma by Aiko (2025), ink on paper with computer colours

I have known Yuma as a Chief in my mother's clan since around 2003; both of my parents told me that when I joined campus and he is the person I would support as Agofe while I wait for the Maracha Chief's time as the 5th Agofe; it should have come after Twenty28.

JESUS said: If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand (Mark 3:25).

On Monday 28th September 2026, Arua 360 asked James Dramani (from Ojapi Clan in Maracha) two questions. He is the former Minister for Finance in Lugbara Kari who resigned during 2022:

What do you think about the Lugbara Kari wrangles? The wrangles are uncalled for. The wrangles hinder the success of the organisation. They show that people want names. They signify the lack of unity among the Lugbara. They indicate selfishness and people want personal gains.

Suggest a way forward! The original people who started the organisation and are still alive should be left to establish the institution to its legal recognition. Selection to the Cabinet should have a proper basis and not handpicking of people through friendship or clanship. Public exposure is necessary. The Cabinet should be representative of the Lugbara units which make it ie the counties or subcounties. Personality is to be considered. People serving such an institution should not be proud. Management of the finances should be proper because this is one area where conflicts can arise. The institution - though a child of a few people - should not be taken as "our thing". Once started, it should be owned by the relevant community. Let it not look like the Ayivu thing or Terego thing, Maracha or Vurra property.

Meanwhile, Moses Maandebo (former Information Minister) from Terego said: I think the wrangles are birth pangs to deliver a beautiful Lugbara Cultural Institution and they will end soon. 

AGOFE refers to the noble title for the King of Lado [Place where our ancestors are resting] or Paramount Chief of Lugbara Kari who must be above 55 years old. In the ancient political setup of the Lugbara, each clan had its own chief, but then the British colonialists introduced a Chief of chiefs:

1st Paramount Chief of West Nile was appointed by the British in 1922 and was Jalwere Jalusiga (King of Alur), also called Ubimo;

2nd Paramount Chief whom Lugbara called Agofe [Pillar] was Mariko Boroa (from Terego) who reigned from Uganda's 1962 Independence until President Milton Obote abolished kingdoms and cultural institutions;

3rd Paramount Chief was Jason Avutia (from Vurra) who was Agofe from around 1987 after the NRM came to power until his death at over 98 years old on 23rd January 2023;

4th Paramount Chief is Manase Yuma Amuku (from Ayivu) who was elected in 2023;

5th Paramount Chief will be Anzelo Pati (from Maracha)...