Newly gazetted Kumam cultural head appoints 52 ministers
Mr Raphael Otaya (left) during his installation in Kaberamaido District on May 31. PHOTO/SIMON PETER EMWAMU
What you need to know:
- Mr Otaya, said the 51 ministers sworn in on August 9 will steer the development of the Kumam and also foster unity among the Kumam, who are mainly based in Kaberamaido, Kalaki, and Soroti.
The newly gazetted Kumam cultural head has sworn in his Cabinet.
Mr Raphael Otaya was elected as the first Kumam cultural head last year and gazetted on August 1.
Mr Otaya, said the 51 ministers sworn in on August 9 will steer the development of the Kumam and also foster unity among the Kumam, who are mainly based in Kaberamaido, Kalaki, and Soroti.
He has pledged to work with the ministers to foster unity and development in the institution.
The ministers include Mr Samuel Eyenga, the prime minister who hails from Kalaki District, who is deputised by Mr Richard Kwar Wang from Kaberamaido, and Mr Paul Ediau.
Rev Elijah Etimu has been appointed the minister of Culture, Ethics and Integrity.
Mr Eyenga, said: “I pledge allegiance to my cultural head, and also work together with the central government for the development of our young cultural institution.”
He said there would be routine cultural meetings to assess how the institution is being run, and this would be in line with the engagement with the subjects.
Who is Otaya?
Mr Otaya is a retired teacher and a holder of diploma in teacher education.
He was born 1957 in present-day Merok Parish, Katine Sub-County, Soroti District, and holds a diploma in education that he obtained from the Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo(Itek), now Kyambogo University.
Mr Otaya worked as tutor at Soroti Core Primary Teachers College in Asuret, board chairman of Pioneer Primary School in Soroti, chairperson of the public accounts committee for Soroti and chairman of his clan, Ikarwok Akisim.
On August 1, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Mr Aggrey David Kibenge, directed the executive director of Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation to publish his name in the gazette as the cultural head of the Kumam.
Mr Frank Mugabi, the communications officer at the ministry of Gender, said the decision was reached at after thorough scrutiny of the processes leading to the election of the Kumam cultural leader.
