Members of the Iteso Cultural Union- ICU Council have snubbed a consultative and reconciliatory meeting organized by the harmonization committee and the cabinet.
The meeting brought together several stakeholders including the retired bishops of Soroti, Rt. Rev. Charles Bernard Ebitu Obaikol, Bukedi Diocese, Nicodemus Okile Engwalas and the representative of Soroti Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr. Gonzaga Ongereny. The meeting was meant to chart a peaceful way forward for the succession of Emorimor.
According to Msgr. Robert Echogu, the chairperson of the five-member harmonization committee that was appointed by the former Emorimor, Augustine Osuban Lemukol, they had invited selected members from the ICU Cabinet, Council and other stakeholders.
Msgr. Echogu said that all other categories were represented in the meeting except the council. He said that the ICU Council Chairperson, Paul Sande Emolot was required to give proposals on the way forward but he failed to turn up at the last minute.
The priest and all other members present noted that Emolot was invited as one of the key members in the establishments of ICU and not as chairperson of the council because the former Emorimor had suspended the council before his death.
Augustine Omare- Okurut, the ICU Prime Minister alias Ekirigi told journalists in a press briefing that Emolot was invited because of the position he held, which is functional in the ICU establishments.
According to the statement released by Emolot on Monday, he was still consulting with clan leaders on the succession processes of Emorimor to attend the meeting.
“As an elected overseer of the clans and the caretaker of the office of Emorimor, there is need for extensive consultations with the clan leaders to whom the institution derives its relevance for which processes are ongoing under my office”, the letter read in part.
Adding that “I am not in a position to give ICU status appraisal and recommendations for ICU progress since the consultative process with the clan leaders is still ongoing. The position of the clans will be communicated in due course.”
There has been a standoff between the ICU Council and Cabinet on who caretakes the office of the Emorimor. The two bodies seem to be taking parallel lines in the organization for the election of the new Emorimor.
