Behind the Scenes of Museveni’s Lango Tour as ESO Steps In

The Director of the External Security Organisation (ESO), Ambassador Joseph Ocwet, has held a high-level briefing with the Lango Paramount Chief, Eng. Dr. Michael Moses Odongo Okune, as preparations intensify for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s upcoming visit to the Lango sub-region.

The meeting, which took place in Kampala on Wednesday, forms part of a series of behind-the-scenes engagements aimed at ensuring a well-coordinated and impactful presidential tour scheduled for April 18, 2026.

Sources familiar with the discussions said Ambassador Ocwet briefed the Paramount Chief on key aspects of the visit, including security coordination, stakeholder involvement, and the overall structure of the day’s activities.

President Museveni is expected to officiate as Chief Guest at a high-profile public lecture in Lira City, where he will address issues of peace, unity, reconciliation, and socio-economic transformation.

However, Ocwet emphasized that the success of the visit will depend on broad-based participation beyond the Lango Cultural Institution.

“The planning and attendance must be inclusive, bringing together all stakeholders across Lango—from cultural and religious leaders to politicians, civil servants, students, and the youth,” he noted.

The ESO chief also underscored the importance of unity among leaders in the sub-region, urging them to use the President’s visit as a turning point for reconciliation and collective development.

The forthcoming visit comes against the backdrop of a recent high-level meeting convened by Eng. Dr. Okune on February 28, 2026, at the Lango Cultural Centre in Lira City, where leaders resolved to promote cohesion following the general elections.

The meeting attracted key stakeholders, including Members of Parliament, district chairpersons, religious leaders, and civil society actors, who committed to bridging political divides and working together for the region’s progress.

Among the major outcomes was a unified call for increased representation of Lango in national leadership structures, with proposals for appointments to ministerial, diplomatic, and other senior government positions.

Leaders also outlined priority areas for government intervention, positioning the upcoming presidential visit as a critical opportunity to advance Lango’s development agenda and strengthen its voice at the national level.