Alur Kingdom starts reconciliation of rival clan brothers

The Alur Kingdom has kick-started reconciliation talks between rival clan members of one of its chiefdoms Padea Papinu.

Padea chiefdom which comprises three clans of Pacuta, Pakwo and Papinu its root dates back to 1675, was torn apart following a misunderstanding. A cleansing ritual performed at Ocwalu Primary school Playground marks the beginning of their reunification.

The chiefdom has thousands of its subjects that cut across Uganda and DR Congo.

However, a major reason that took the Kingdom’s delegation was a bitter split in the Padea Papinu Clan where the sitting chief Ovon David Malyamungu together with his Loyalists had earlier clashed with his brother called Thokerunga and his faithful, all in the name of being on the throne.

According to the clan’s brief history, the sitting chief Ovon David Malyamungu ascended to the throne 8 years ago,  after his Elder brother Thokerunga, who is now claiming the throne declined to take over the throne, citing his illiteracy after the death of the then caretaker called Bear.

The battle has led to bloodshed, arrests, reported deaths and displacement of many subjects into Uganda raising security concerns.

Alur Kingdom’s delegation on Wednesday this week,  led by Prime Minister Opar Lawrence Angala travelled 12 kilometres deep into DR Congo at Ocwalu in Mahagi Territory, Ituri Province,  to hatch a plan of reuniting the two brothers. The delegation included the Duke of Pacengo chiefdom, the Chief of Padwot also the speaker of Alur Kingdom, The chief of Pawong chiefdom, The Chief priest Of Alur Kingdom and his deputy amongst others

During the mediation at Ocwalu  Catholic church in DR Congo, A sister to the king Emmanuel Oyera blamed the elder brother for inciting the mob adding that he gave up the throne willingly.

“When our sister Bear who was on the throne died, our elder brother Thokerunga was given the throne but he declined. He said the throne be given to the current chief who even never wanted the throne. Now he is claiming what he initially rejected causing bloodshed here” Oyera claimed.

The queen to the Late King threw a spanner in the works when he told the public that the Chief’s brother claiming the throne is not known to her.

Another sister to the king instead blames the king for sidelining them.

“For me, I’m surprised because the Chief doesn’t recognize us, he doesn’t help us and has totally abandoned us as if we are not from the same family, we want him out of that throne”, She said amidst applause from hundreds who turned up to keenly follow the unfoldings.

Meanwhile, An elder brother to the King only identified as Thokerunga, who is battling the chief told the Kingdom’s delegation that he wants his throne back.

“For me, I need my throne back, it belongs to me and no one can deprive me of that,” Thokerunga who commands support from a majority of the subjects said and this elicited massive applause from the crowd.

The majority of the locals have accused chief Ovon David Malyamungu of funding rebels, using Congolese Police to arbitrarily arrest And torture his critics, unlawful soliciting of Money from subjects Among others before calling upon the Kingdom’s intervention.

From what was witnessed, the Majority is not interested in the services of the current chief. This would be witnessed by the grumbling of subjects who were booing his aides during their speech.

However, The accused chief Ovon David Malyamungu denied all the allegations labelled against him before saying he has forgiven all his subjects.

He said they should first go and beg for forgiveness from Him such that they can stay peacefully.

“For me, I don’t have any problem with those subjects who attack My palace under the command of my brother, I have forgiven them but first, they should come and ask for forgiveness from me”, Ovon told the Whisper Eye News.

A source within the Alur Kingdom reasoned that ” this chief needs to change his tactics, from the look of things, people don’t like him, I think as the kingdom, we really need to talk to him Separate before we engage both parties”,.

The LC 3 chairperson of Padea Town Council Melki Onyutha Orwothuwun Said “We hope nothing will again happen to the subjects that initially fled to Uganda because, from the look of things, those people are still unsafe in Congo”,

The prime minister of Alur Kingdom Opar Lawrence Angala,  told the two parties that the Kingdom will come out with its standpoint on the matter later.

He cautioned the rival brothers against discrimination slurs that marred the whole debate during the mediation talks.

Alur Kingdom has a population of over 8 million subjects Majority of Whom stays in DR Congo.