Tuku reveals that the Leopard escorted such elders whenever they moved through insecure routes to solve traditional problems and in some cases it would together with snakes and grasshoppers appear at the grave of such an elder during burial.
More than ten chief under the Lugbara cultural institution, also known as Lugbara Kari in West Nile have unanimously endorsed the construction of a giant Leopard statue in Arua city as their traditional symbol.
The chiefs who were drawn from Maracha, Terego, Ayivu, Madi, Vurra and Aringa, among other areas, inspected Arua hill roundabout the construction site of the emblem.
The construction of the Arua Hill roundabout kicked off with the inauguration of Arua city on July 1st this year and is being undertaken by Development Infrastructure. Early this month, there was a huge debate among the Lugbara on whether to use the Leopard or Bull as their traditional emblem.
Some of the people wondered whether the Lugbara would accept a Leopard, which devours people or the Bull that shows strength. During the inspection, Ismail Tuku, the Prime Minister Lugbara Kari cultural institution, said they resolved to maintain the Leopard as the identity of the Lugbara.
He explained that according to their tradition, when an elder died, a Leopard would visit the bereaved home to mourn the deceased. Tuku reveals that the Leopard escorted such elders whenever they moved through insecure routes to solve traditional problems and in some cases it would together with snakes and grasshoppers appear at the grave of such an elder during burial.
Suzan Ezati Andrua, the Education and Sports Minister in Lugbara Kari says the position of the Leopard among the Lugbara cannot be debated because its role and the importance is fully enshrined in their tradition.
Malon Adroni, the Chief of Vurra and the Representative of Alur, Sam Baker called on the young generation to embrace education in order to document the history of the Lugbara people to avoid unnecessary debates on the cultural regalia.
Sunday Olishe Etrima, the Supervisor Development Infrastructure and overseer of the construction of Lugbara emblem commended the chiefs for blessing the construction. According to Etrima, the magnificent project estimated to cost over 500 million Shillings will have continuous water flowing around it.
According to the officials of Development Infrastructure, the three months project, which kicked off together with Arua City Clock Tower construction will be unveiled to the public at the end of September 2020.
