Growing dissatisfaction with previous leadership has driven the Arak Ocola clan in Lango to elect Willy Odongo, a financial consultant, as its new clan head, locally known as Awitong.
The election was held on Saturday, March 21st, 2026, at 31 polling stations across eight Saja (voting locations), where clan members are spread across the Lango sub-region.
On Sunday afternoon, the clan electoral commission chairperson, John Peter Odyek, declared Odongo the winner after securing 2,114 votes, representing 78.6 percent.
His competitor, Henry Patrick Ogwang Adar, garnered 550 votes (20.5 percent), while 24 votes were declared invalid out of the total 2,688 cast.Odyek said the next phase will involve elections for Chiefs (Rwode) in charge of Saja and other lower clan leaders, enabling the Awitong-elect to form a full leadership structure.
In his acceptance remarks, Willy Odongo said the results reflect the clan’s desire for change. He pledged to reorganize leadership within his first year to address concerns that leaders were disconnected from the people.His rival, Henry Patrick Ogwang Adar, welcomed the outcome and urged the Awitong-elect to reform the collection of clan dues.
He suggested that such funds should support bright but needy learners.Hellen Arao Okodi, a resident of Akaidebe village in Ocini Parish, Kamdini Sub County, described the election as timely, citing increasing complaints among clan members.
She urged the new leadership to prioritize the protection of clan land, especially for widows and orphans, accusing the previous administration of prioritizing land sales.
In the Lango sub-region, clan heads (Awitong) play a key role in cultural leadership, conflict resolution, and community development within their clans. URN