Lugbara paramount chief dies at 96

Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | His Highness Jason Avutia III, the Lugbara paramount chief is dead. Avutia passed on around 5:00pm Monday at his home in Zambia cell, Mvara ward in Arua city after a long battle with an unknown illness.

Ismail Tuku, the prime minister of the Lugbara Chiefdom confirmed the news of the death to Uganda Radio Network noting that the burial arrangements are underway.

Avutia’s death comes at a time when the Lugbara cultural institution is in the process of identifying his successor, which was expected to climax next month.

Moses Mandebo, the information minister for the Lugbara cultural institution says that Avutia will be remembered for championing the peace agreement between the Lugabara and the Acholi.

Avutia, who has been the paramount chief of the Lugbara chiefdom commonly called Agofe since 2012, when the central government officially recognized the Lugbara cultural institution, died at the age of 96 years.

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