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Shift Media News 
By PATRICK JARAMOGI
SOROTI, Uganda [SHIFTMEDIA] On March 2 2022, there was glamour and pomp as Tororo based businessman Paul Sande Emolot, the hitherto former Prime Minister of the Iteso Cultural Union was installed as the interim Emorimor following the death of Emorimor Augustine Osuban Lemukol.
Paul Sande was installed the interim cultural head after the Cultural speaker John Francis Okuma called a council sitting that saw Emolot the chairperson installed as Osuban’s successor.
There are 125 councilors that form the Iteso Cultural Union Council. Paul Sande was serving as substantive Emorimor for six months as stipulated in the constitution. The elections of a new Emorimor was slated for July 30 2022 and official installation to be held on November 26 2022.
Dragged to court
However in a new twist of events, just before the embattled wealthy leader warms the seat, a group of seven concerned Ugandans have dragged him to court. In a Civil Suit No 09 of 2022, that we obtained, Alloc William Akoll, Okadapao Josepth M.E, Aruo Alfred Martin, Enokokin Stephen, Asekenyi Joyce, Apio Polly and Agoda Lydia act as the Plaintiffs, while Emolot Paul Sande and Okuma John Francis are the defendants.
Details of the Suit
Through their lawyers, M/s Okanyum Namusana & Co. Advocates, the plaintiffs contend that the first Defendant, Paul Sande Emolot was not of age for the position of Chairperson of Council of Iteso Cultural Union at the time of his election to the office of the Chairperson of the Council of Iteso Cultural Union.
They also argued that Paul Sande Emolot having been convicted of corruption vide a Civil Suit HCT-00-AC-C0-0122-2014 at the Chief Magistrates Court holden at the Anti Corruption Court in Kololo, Criminal Appeal 3 of 2019, was not competent for the election of the office of Chairperson of the Iteso Cultural Union as in accordance with the Constitution of the Iteso Cultural Union, and the Leadership Code Act.
There want court to declare as thus; that “The election of the First Defendant (Paul Sande Emolot)as Chairperson of the Iteso Cultural Union was illegal and a nullity in accordance to the Constitution of the Iteso Cultural Union as of the dates of elections.”
The plaintiffs also contend in their suit that the 2nd Defendant (Okuma John Francis) was over age when he was elected as Male Youth Councillor for Pallisa District.They also reaffirm that the election of Okuma John Francis as Speaker of the Iteso Cultural Union was illegal.
They also state that before his demise, the Emorimor Papa Augustine Osuban Lemukol had suspended the Council of the Iteso Cultural Union vide letter referenced ICU/HHE/2021/018 dated December 29th 2021.
The plaintiffs also want court to declare all meetings held by the Iteso Cultural Union Council as illegal.
‘An order for a permanent injunction to restrain the Defendants or and their agents from holding out the Title of Emorimor of whatever category, Royal Regalia, having Royal Guards, Seal, Court of Arms, the Logo, as well as having access to the official institution documents,” they ordered.
The Court gave the Defendants 15 days from the filling of the suit on March 14 2022 to defend themselves or the plaintiffs may continue with the suit that will be judged in their absence.
Emolot Declines to speak
The frantic efforts to get a comment from Paul Sande Emolot and Okuma John Francis were futile as their known phones were switched off.
Other controversies
This is not the first time the Tororo based businessman is shrouded in controversy, in Febraury 2021 he went into hiding after a security manhunt was mounted on him for a case of attempted murder.
READ:https://shiftmedianews.com/wanted-security-hunts-for-iteso-leader-ps-emolot-over-attempted-murder/
According to police reports, Paul Sande Emolot intercepted a one Richard Otabong as he drove from Malaba to his ancestral home in Usukuru, in Tororo in the wee hours.
For starters, Otabong, was the campaign Manager for Okea John (NRM) the Tororo District Local Government Chairperson. Okea won the hotly contested elections beating the former chairperson Emmanuel Osuuna with a wide margin.
“I was heading to check on a sick child in Usukuru in the morning when Emolot intercepted. He shot at my car window before I managed to speed off to police,” said the shaken Otabong.
