Kumam Cultural Leader Faces Backlash over alleged undermining of national unity, politicizing cultural leadership

Stakeholders are contemplating petitioning the Attorney General and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs over alleged serious and persistent breaches of the Constitution and law a Cultural Institution headed by “Won Ateker” of Kumam Community.

Accordimg to sources , the petition is brought under Article 3(4), Article 246, and Article 50 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, together with the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act, 2011, and relevant jurisprudence on constitutional order and public accountability.

‘’It seeks urgent intervention by the relevant offices in light of blatant, sustained, and unconstitutional conduct by the cultural institution led by Won Ateker , cultural head of the Kumam community’’, said a source.

The petitioner claims that this institution, in its current operation and public conduct, has reportedly grossly violated the Constitution and must either be suspended or deleted from the register of traditional or cultural institutions with immediate effect.

They claim that the institution led by “Won Ateker” and his appointees have engaged in conduct that directly contravenes the Constitution, undermines national unity, and politicizes cultural leadership—thereby eroding the spirit and letter of Article 246 and the laws that govern traditional institutions.

‘’The cultural leader WON ATEKER has consistently preached divisive and inflammatory rhetoric, often framed in a manner that targets specific ethnic and political groups, contrary to the constitutional mandate of non-partisanship, unity, and cultural preservation. His appointed Prime Minister (Katikkiro-equivalent) is formally employed as a Mobilization Manager within a registered political party, thereby blurring constitutional lines between cultural institutions and political organizations’’, added a source.

The source further notes that several ministers in this institution openly double as political operatives, participating in campaign activities, partisan mobilizations, and public attacks on other political entities.

The petitioner cliams that this level of institutionalized partisanship, cloaked in cultural legitimacy, destroys the constitutional principle of cultural neutrality, threatens social cohesion, and undermines public trust in the sanctity of cultural heritage and it therefore violates Article 246(3)(c) and (d) of the Constitution which says ;

“A traditional or cultural leader shall not have or exercise any administrative, legislative or executive powers of Government or local government. A person shall not, while remaining a traditional leader, join or participate in partisan politics.”

By allowing officials of this institution to openly operate within party political structures—especially the Prime Minister—the institution , it alleged that this has violates both the spirit and letter of this article.

This is not a matter of isolated conduct by individuals; it is a systemic institutional breach that calls for disbandment or suspension under the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act, 2011 and breaches the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act, 2011.

The continued involvement of the institution’s top officials in political party activities constitutes a fundamental breach of the law, warranting immediate intervention.

‘’The Constitution mandates all Ugandans to protect and preserve the unity and sovereignty of the Republic. Any institution, however historic or symbolic, which becomes a vessel for sectarianism, division, or political incitement, must be viewed as an existential threat to constitutional order. The repeated inflammatory speeches, ethno-political messaging, and mobilization along political lines by this cultural institution poses a danger to national unity and peaceful coexistence. In Rev. Christopher Mtikila v Attorney General (Tanzania) and Charles Onyango Obbo v Attorney General, East African jurisprudence has emphasized the supremacy of constitutional order above personal or group interests. Cultural institutions are creations of the Constitution and must operate within its boundaries. The moment a cultural leader abandons his cultural mandate for political mobilization, he loses both the moral and legal legitimacy to lead’’, reads further the source.

It further notes that ; ‘’In light of the above, we hereby petition the Attorney General to: Immediately investigate and document the activities of the institution led by “WON ATEKER” for persistent breach of Article 246 and the Institution of Traditional or Cultural Leaders Act, 2011. Recommend to Cabinet the suspension or deregistration of the said cultural institution under the relevant provisions of law. Direct the Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development to halt any further recognition, funding, or official engagements with this institution until it complies with constitutional standards. Issue a public warning and legal advisory against cultural institutions engaging in partisan politics, in line with constitutional obligations’’.

‘’The behavior of the institution led by “WON ATEKER” is not only unlawful but a betrayal of the cultural role entrusted to traditional leaders by our Constitution. We urge you, Honourable Attorney General, to take decisive, lawful, and exemplary action to defend the sanctity of our Constitution and uphold the rule of law’’, states the petitioners.