Sad News In Uganda As Another King Dies, Here Are The Details Of His Death

The Lugbara community is mourning the death of its cultural leader, His Highness Yumah Amuku Manase, who died at Arua Regional Referral Hospital in the early hours of Monday after battling illness. Manase, who was the fourth Lugbara Agofe and chief of the Ayivu people, reportedly passed away at around 4:00 am.

Manase died aged 79, just weeks before he was expected to celebrate his 80th birthday next month. According to family members and Ayivu clan elders, the cultural leader had been battling hypertension and diabetes before developing respiratory complications that led to his admission to hospital on Friday.

The elders said Manase’s condition required medical attention, and he was reportedly placed on oxygen support before his death. News of his passing has left members of the Lugbara community grieving as they prepare to lay their cultural leader to rest.

Elly Ejiku Emo, the Prime Minister of Lugbara Kari under the Lugbara Agofe institution, confirmed the death and said burial preparations had begun. He revealed that the body had been transferred to Adumi Health Centre IV in Ayivu Division, Arua City, where family members and cultural leaders started organising the final arrangements.

Emo described Manase as a leader who cared deeply about the Lugbara people and wanted to strengthen their cultural institution. He said the late Agofe had hoped to see the institution develop to a level comparable to cultural kingdoms and institutions such as Buganda, Bunyoro, Tooro, Bamasaba and Alur.

Fadhil Lemmeriga, the Prime Minister of the Aringa Kingdom, also joined the bereaved family and Lugbara Kari elders in preparing for the burial. He described Manase as a peaceful leader who valued development and urged members of the community to preserve his legacy. Lemmeriga also called on rival groups within Lugbara Kari to put aside their differences and ensure peaceful burial preparations.

Manase became the fourth Lugbara Agofe after the death of his predecessor, His Highness Jackson Avutia, about two years ago. However, his leadership was marked by internal disagreements involving a faction led by former Prime Minister Ismail Tuku and other cultural leaders. The divisions have continued to raise questions about the direction and unity of the Lugbara cultural institution.

The disagreements reportedly intensified when Anzelo Pati, a Maracha clan leader, was installed as Agofe-designate despite a Chief Magistrate’s Court ruling that had stopped the installation ceremony a week earlier. Manase’s death now comes at a time when the institution is dealing with leadership disputes and disagreements over the Save Ayivu Initiative, which advocates for the creation of Ayivu District instead of the area remaining part of Arua City. As burial arrangements continue, community leaders are appealing for unity while the full burial programme and other details about the family he leaves behind remain unconfirmed.