The late former Lango Paramount Chief, Won-nyaci Yosam Odur Ebii, who passed away on November 10, 2025 at the age of 99, at Lira University Teaching Hospital after battling a long illness has been hailed as a towering figure of peace, unity and cultural renaissance whose leadership reshaped the trajectory of northern Uganda.
Chief Odur, who served as the Won-nyaci from 2003 until ill health forced him to step back in 2024, is being remembered as a visionary cultural leader and an instrumental voice in ending the decades-long Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency.
Speaking during a Special Council Sitting at Mayor’s Gardens, Lira City on Thursday, leaders, diplomats and community members paid tribute to his legacy during a series of memorial events ahead of his official burial scheduled for Saturday, November 22, 2025, at his home in Teboke Village, Chegere Sub-County, Apac District next to his wife who passed away in 2011.
Foreign Affairs Minister of the Lango Cultural Foundation, Ambassador Dickson Ogwang Okul, recounted Odur’s pivotal role in initiating dialogue with elusive LRA leader Joseph Kony.
He explained that it was Odur who led a delegation of elders and religious leaders deep into the Garamba forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they urged Kony to abandon rebellion and end the killing of unarmed civilians. Ogwang noted that as early as 2004, Chief Odur was convening regional meetings to address insecurity caused by both LRA rebels and persistent cattle raids by Karimojong warriors.
His outspoken criticism of the government’s reluctance to negotiate with the LRA, Ogwang added, pushed authorities to accept peace talks.
Senior Presidential Advisor Franco Ojur, a former UNLA soldier, also credited Odur with helping to stabilize the region in the aftermath of the 1986 political transition.
He stated that the late chief personally traveled across the Lango sub-region persuading former combatants who were considering rebellion to lay down their weapons, a move that averted further conflict.
Beyond his role in peacebuilding, mourners highlighted Odur’s lasting contributions to cultural preservation and development.
Otuke Assistant RDC Isaac Opio Opeo described him as a mentor who played an essential role in reinstating the Won-nyaci institution and strengthening Lango identity.
One of Odur’s most notable achievements was organizing the landmark 2012 Lango Conference, which brought together Lango diaspora communities from Europe and the United States to present development priorities, many of which were later implemented by the government.
Lango Prime Minister Fred Ogwal Oyie, who now serves as acting Won-nyaci, announced that he will oversee the election process to choose Odur’s successor. He affirmed that the chief's legacy will continue to guide Lango leadership and community aspirations.
To honor Odur’s lifetime of service, the Lango Regional Special Council has adopted several resolutions, including the erection of rhino statues along major regional roads, establishment of a Lango cultural education centre at Lira University, documentation of a comprehensive biography of the late chief, and the creation of an annual lecture series in his memory. Continued support for Aya Victoria Vocational School—founded by Odur in honor of his late wife—was also formally endorsed.
Leaders described Chief Yosam Odur Ebii as a courageous and principled custodian of peace and culture whose influence extended far beyond the Lango community. His leadership, they noted, not only fostered unity and reconciliation but also inspired educational, social and cultural advancement across northern Uganda.
As preparations for his burial continue, the nation reflects on the enduring legacy of a man widely regarded as one of the most influential traditional leaders of his time.