The Entebbe chapter of Acholi Development Association (ADA) has reopened the old organisation that has been dormant since 1990s.
The meeting at Kiwaffu in Entebb last Sunday agreed to revamp ADA and also voted to retain the name and the constitution of the old organisation.
The members also resolved to tackle disunity in the community and initiate programmes and skills to empower and support the unemployed youth and promote entrepreneurs.
The Entebbe branch of ADA was previously headed by John Bosco Abwolaxi and deputised by late Dimitiria Odong Aginya. Some of the old members of the chapter present at the reactivation on Sunday included treasurer David Ocheng, secretary Bonaventure Lony, youth representative George Omal, and founder member Okot Lony.
ADA was founded in London in the early 1980s to foster unity within the Acholi community in the diaspora and back at home. In Uganda, the key ADA chapters were operational in Jinja, Kampala, and Entebbe, with Kampala as its main operational base.
The ADA central executive leadership had Angelo Banya as chairman and Sarah Lamola as deputy, with Arthur Larok as general secretary, and Mrs Mary Ocitti as treasurer.
But ADA went into limbo over differences among its top leadership, including over question of succession, and disagreement over where to site the headquarters.
At that time, ADA was supporting many women’s activities in the community, including giving out loans at an interest rate of 10 percent but failure to service the loan crippled the operation.
At the Entebbe chapter meeting on Sunday, all the former leaders of ADA resigned and a new interim committee put in pace to carry out the activities of ADA. The new line up included chairperson Constantine Nyeko, vice-Chairperson Consolata Acayo, secretary Judith Ajun, vice Secretary Gilbert Odongkara, treasurer David Ochieng, and mobiliser George Omal.
Three zonal leaders were also named as George Omal for Kiwaffu, Jibbs Ojok for Katabi, and Mrs Christine Kilama for Garuga-Nalugala.
A source familiar with the founding of ADA said its constitution was drafted by the late Aswa County Constituency Assembly Delegate and Electoral Commissioner Charles Owor, now Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, and current Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Norbert Mao.
Discussions are underway for a formal relaunch of the organisation.
