“We Didn’t Defy Presidential Directives” – Acholi Cultural Leaders Speak Out

Acholi Cultural leaders have strongly dismissed the information that was recently given to President Yoweri Museveni that they had been spreading false information about Covid-19.

In his address to the nation on March 31^st President Museveni was informed that some sections of Acholi Cultural leaders had gone on a local radio station and claimed that Covid-19 was an evil spirit and not a disease.

This was revealed to the president by his press secretary Ms Lindah Nabusayi.

In response, President Museveni asked the Acholi paramount leader, Rwot Acana to reign in on his people to stop spreading misinformation.

However, the cultural leadership of Acholi says this information was false.

In a statement, Ambrose Olaa, the Acholi Cultural Institution Prime Minister said none of the 57 Chiefdoms in Acholi had issued a directive contrary to the Presidential directives on fighting Covid-19.

‘’The Position of Ker-kwaro Acholi has been clear right from the beginning; his highness Rwot David Onen Acana II and the Prime Minister Ambrose Olaa came out clearly to state to the Public in their communication that all must comply to the directives that were issued by President Museveni and the Ministry of Health.’’ reads part of the statement.

‘’Tradition bars Acholi traditional Chiefs from engaging in acts that relates to evil spirits.’’

Olaa further clarified that the term ‘ryemo gemo’ which was attributed to the cultural leaders appearing on radio, is not “evil” as erroneously reported to the President; but a mechanism for sounding communal alerts towards a grave situation.

The Acholi Premier on Thursday received a copy of Covid-19 guidelines from the Minister of Presidency Esther Mbayo at an event held at Acholi Cultural Palace in Bar-dege division in Gulu town.

Minister Mbayo while delivering the guidelines said President Museveni had urged the Paramount Chief through his cultural institution to join the fight against the pandemic that is currently ravaging the whole world.

Mbayo further said that she got information that some Local Chiefs went to the mountain to seek the origin of the Covid-19 yet  people already know that the pandemic came from China.

The Minister added that People in Acholi should adhere to the directives issued by the President and the Ministry of Health so that they can fight the spread of the pandemic.

Since 18th March 2020, Museveni has come out with strict measures to curb the spread of the disease that includes; closing schools, public places, all gatherings, public transport, a night curfew among others.

Uganda so far has 48 people have tested Positive for the Covid-19 and tare currently receiving treatment at various Hospitals across Uganda.