What Is the Game Plan?

Rwot Acana, who has assumed the created Museveni-era Paramount Chieftainship of the Acoli people, recently announced that Mr. Museveni has given him permission to convene a meeting.( http://www.newvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=8&newsCategoryId=16&newsId=718327)
The envisaged agenda of the meeting is supposedly to review the progress of the reconstruction stipulations agreed upon at the Juba peace talks.

First, let us take a brief overview of the history of Acoli chieftainship. The highest political grouping that Acoli people ever had was the clan. Traditionally each clan was headed by a chief, called rwot (which some claim the word is a derivative of the French language). The rwot succession was meritorious, based on character and skills of sons of the kaal (the chief’s court) generally, but not necessarily. Occasionally, bold and adventurous outsiders so impressed the elders that they were inducted into the clan leadership. The rwot was a position of service—a true servant of the people—rather than a means of amassing wealth. Character and oratory skills were the hallmark of solid citizenship. Relationship with other clans was confederate, based on mutual interests, such as marriage, military defense or offence. Lesser clans were co-opted into the larger clans by their needs rather than through force.

Generally the various clans lived in peace with one another. Beyond light skirmishes, there was never an all-out war for dominance. Arab slave traders may have shaken this idyllic setup, but the most pronounced outside disruption was from British colonialism. Any chief who was over-jealously for his people was replaced by pretenders who were lapdogs, willing to dance to the colonialist whims. Rwot Acana’s grandfather was chief of the Payiira, one of the larger clans. He would not bow to the British pressure, and was exiled to the now Kololo Hill in Kampala—away from his people that he felt honored, privileged and obligated to serve their interests.

Overall there was no desire for a lordship over the whole tribe by a kingly figure. Had Acoli traditional political leadership evolved organically, it seems likely that a stronger confederacy would have been the next outcome. The traumas of the last forty years demonstrated the fault lines, and sentiments of one Acoli nation is gaining currency--if only for survival. If  a burning tire necklace knows no bound as long as you are an Acoli, then one might think twice in "looking only for number one" with the hope that the devil you serve will save you.

This brings us to the Paramount Chief. One thing for sure, we all know it is not an organic evolution. Why was it created? To keep up with the Joneses? As another arrow in Museveni’s quiver of political machinery?

The jury is still out on whether Acoli needs a Paramount Chief. Moreover, Museveni himself refuses a king of long tradition in his native Ankole. His motive for this position may be more of a pirate who does not want rivalry for the hearts of the Banyankole rather than for the people’s wishes.

In Acoli, there was once a Laloyo Maber, a creation of Obote I. The institution vanished when the same creator dismantled all kingdoms. Some never forgave him for it, but had the last laugh. No Acoli, however, lost sleep on the demise of the institution of Laloyo Maber.

If Rwot Acana wants to build the institution of the Paramount Chief into the consciousness of his people, he should be cognizant of historical facts. He would loose credibility if he plays the errand boy, in reality and/or perception. If the call for the meeting was initiated by Museveni, a man who was dragged screaming to the negotiation table, then the exercise is a political farce. The reconstruction regime is in the prime minister’s docket. Why couldn’t he call the meeting, and invite Rwot Acana as a participant in the review?