KAMPALA – A professor of Linguistics at Kabale University, Elly Wesana Chomi has been elected the first king of the Banyole cultural institution.
The 75-year-old was elected by the clan leaders who converged at Butaleja district headquarters.
Wesana, from the Bahidolwa clan, garnered 91 votes to beat his sole challenger Benedict Muyagu of the Balwa clan who secured 45 votes. He was declared a winner by John Higenyi, the Banyole Cultural Institution Electoral Commission chairperson.
Assembly has elected Prof Elly Wesana, as its Sehulu (leader) of Banyole Cultural Institution in Butaleja District.
Prof Wesana, 75, director of postgraduate studies at Kabale University, was declared winner after he polled 91 votes defeating his only rival, Mr Ben Muyangu, who garnered 45 votes during an election, which took place at the district headquarters on Saturday.
Banyole group has 148 clan leaders, of which 136 voted. The rest did not turn up. The ethnic group has a population of about 300,000 people living in Uganda and in the diaspora.
Prof Wesana and Mr Muyangu, a primary teacher, were nominated to contest for the position on September 16.
The Banyole Cultural Institution electoral commission chairperson, Mr John Higenyi, said the exercise was peaceful.
“The exercise was peaceful and 93 per cent of voters turned up for the election and majority voted Prof Wesana as the first Sehulu,” he said.
In his acceptance speech, Prof Wesana called for unity among the Banyole and pledged to foster development in education and health sectors.
“My research indicates that children are doing badly in education. So, I will make sure I improve education in the district now that I am the cultural head,” he said. Mr Muyangu said: “I appeal to the winner of today’s election to unite people in Bunyole,” he said.
Butaleja District Woman MP Milly Mugeni applauded Banyole for getting a cultural leader, saying he will be instrumental in fostering unity and development.
“We have long wanted to revival our culture and are very happy now that we have got Sehulu to run our cultural affairs,” she said.