By Stanley Ebele & Moses Obwona
Lira– Lango Cultural Foundation (Ker Tekwaro Lango) headed by Mzee Yosam Odur Ebii is seeking over Shillings 2.4 billion to run the institution for the financial year 2022/2023.
The Shillings 2,460,100,000 budget proposal was presented during the general assembly of Lango Cultural foundation held at Lango Cultural Center on October 7, 2022 and subsequently passed by the council.
In the budget, the cultural institution came up with proposals on raising revenue to finance various activities in the budget.
They include; revenue from educational institutions, registration fees for marriages and clans, and grants from the Central Government. Furthermore, Lango Cultural foundation hopes to solicit 150,000 shillings annually from Members of Parliament from Lango as their support to the institution.
The budget highlights allowances, paying contract staff salaries, sensitization and mobilization as the key areas of expenditure.
When Contacted for comment, the Spokesperson for Lango Cultural foundation Jacob Ocen said the budget will help in the smooth running of the organization.
He urged other clan leaders in their different capacities to join hands and support the move for the betterment and development of their culture and the cultural institution.
Reactions
The Minister of Gender, Labor and Social Development Betty Amongi who is also the Oyam South legislator welcomed the budget proposal noting that as Members of Parliament from Lango, they have been supporting the cultural institution and pledged to continue doing the same.
She however said that the institution should not cap the amount of money to be solicited from the MPs because it’s simply a contribution.
According to the budget plan seen by LBS Newsday, the cultural institution has asked each MP from Lango to contribute a minimum of 150, 000 shillings, which Amongi said is too little for an MP. She advised the institution to up the minimum contribution for each MP to at least 1, 000, 000 shillings.
Francis Opio, the Assistant Registrar at All Saints University Lango also said they will give financial support to the foundation if approached.
“The council will sit and agree how much we can contribute. We have done this before and we shall continue supporting the cultural institution.”
The Director Uganda Christian Institute, Lira Sam Omara also promised to support the cultural institution with resources.
They were responding to a request by Lango Cultural Foundation for educational institutions to support them.
However, Dicken Oyuku the Principal of Uganda Technical College Lira questioned the vote from which they will support the cultural institution.
