By KT Reporter
After 115 years without a leader, the Okol clan, one of the historic Acholi lineages straddling Kitgum and Lamwo districts, is preparing to crown a new chief, marking a major step in restoring a lost traditional institution interrupted by colonial rule.
The coronation of Jude Ogik, the chief-designate of the Okol clan, is set for December 12, 2025, in Kitgum District. His appointment follows generations of leadership void since the death of Rwot Owiro Lukweromoi in 1920, the last legitimate Okol ruler before British colonialists dismantled the chiefdom system.
Rogers Olanya, the Prime Minister-designate of the Okol clan, said the restoration of the chiefdom will bring back unity, discipline, and direction among the people of Okol, who have remained without a formal leadership structure for more than a century.
“When you look at any community without a proper leadership structure, that community will be at a disadvantage,” Olanya said. “For 115 years, we have just been hanging, not under Chua, not under Lamwo. Now that we are restoring our chiefdom, a sense of unity and development will come back.”
The Okol people occupy areas in Mucwini Sub-County in Kitgum and Madi Opei Sub-County in Lamwo, with an estimated population of 18,000 to 20,000 people. Their ancestry traces to Yak in South Sudan, from where their forefathers migrated to Agoro Hill and later to Abone.
The last known chief, Rwot Owiro Lukweromoi, resisted colonial control, leading to his arrest around 1910. He spent nearly a decade in prison in Gulu and Kitgum, where he was tortured and eventually died in custody.
According to Olanya, the British later appointed a proxy leader, Rwot Kalam, to act as an intermediary, but he was never accepted as a legitimate chief by the Okol people. Since then, the chiefdom disintegrated.
The lineage passed through Opoka Lak Ler, Bernardino Lukwe, and later C.B.M. Okello, who was never crowned because of his role as a pastor. After Okello’s death, his son, Jude Ogik, a lawyer by profession, was chosen to inherit the throne, reviving a leadership line dormant since the colonial period. Ogik, the chief-designate, described his selection as both a blessing and a heavy responsibility.
“I feel privileged and blessed to take on this role after eight generations,” he said. “It’s a big responsibility because for 115 years people have not related to the idea of royalty. The young generation hardly understands the do’s and dont’s of a chiefdom, so we must teach them gently.”
Ogik added that the restoration will focus on community development, education, health, and economic empowerment rather than the outdated aspects of tradition.
“We will go for what is not repugnant to our laws. We want to restore positive values, hard work, and unity,” Ogik said. “Our people used to be known for their industriousness; we must revive that culture.”
The clan leadership has already launched development initiatives, including the distribution of 40 tons of maize seeds from the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) programme, with plans to introduce sunflower, soybeans, and coffee farming next year.
Olanya said the Okol chiefdom will soon be recognised as the 58th chiefdom under the Acholi Cultural Institution, led by Rwot David Onen Acana II, restoring the Okol people to their rightful place in the Acholi cultural hierarchy.
“We are appealing to all community members, friends, and well-wishers to join us in this historic journey. With unity and hard work, Okol will rise again.” A formal launch of the coronation preparations is scheduled for October 25, after which committees will be formed to oversee the event and mobilise resources.
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