Mzee Yosam Odur Ebii, the Paramount Chief (Won-Nyaci) of Lango, was laid to rest following a solemn ceremony that drew thousands. His body departed his residence at 11 a.m., beginning the funeral program with a procession to Teboke Primary School, where burial prayers were held.

Led by the Uganda Police band, the cortege featured Lango elders dressed in full traditional regalia and women in cultural attire, an honor customarily reserved for towering cultural figures. Upon arrival, the church received the casket and placed it gently on a royal hide beneath a sacred grass-thatched booth, symbols exclusively associated with chiefs and royalty. Before this, the Itogo (Council of Elders) performed a traditional ritual, an enchantment to pay tribute to a man whose cultural influence remains unparalleled.

Vice President (VP) Jessica Alupo represented the President at the ceremony. Delivering the President’s message, she conveyed his admiration for the late chief, noting that President Museveni regarded him as one of Uganda’s most patriotic leaders and lamented that “he has gone at the time when we still needed him most.” The President also emphasized the crucial role cultural institutions play in safeguarding African heritage and urged Lango leaders to continue promoting their cultural values.

In her personal address, Alupo described Mzee Yosam Odur as a steadfast pillar of peace and encouraged the leadership to uphold unity. Earlier, during the sermon, Bishop Prof. Alfred Olwa of Lango Diocese praised the Paramount Chief for his humility and dedication to the peace and development of the region. He recalled, “One day I visited His Highness with the bishop of this area and he treated us to a royal welcome. Then later he went into his house then he came with a very special gift; 100 cups for Holy Communion. These are not small acts, they are a testimony that he built his life on Christ.” Bishop Olwa further highlighted the chief’s role in fostering unity within Lango and urged the community to carry forward his example.

Several cultural leaders sent delegations, describing him as an extraordinary contemporary whose influence extended well beyond Lango. Rt. Hon. Frederick Ogwal Oyee, Prime Minister of the Lango Cultural Foundation (LCF) and Acting Won-Nyaci, acknowledged the challenges facing the cultural institution but pledged to safeguard and advance the legacy Mzee Yosam Odur left behind.

Mzee Yosam Odur passed away on Monday, 10th November, at the age of 99. His burial rites began at 4:30 p.m., marked by a seven-gun salute, an honor befitting a leader credited with revitalizing cultural leadership and protecting the heritage of the Lango people.