LIRA, UGANDA — Friday, 30th October 2026
A two-day medical camp dedicated to the Owitong (Lango Clan Heads) opened today at Lira Regional Referral Hospital, with more than 50 clan leaders benefiting from essential health tests and screening services on the first day alone.
The camp, organised by the Hospital in close collaboration with the Office of Won Nyaci me Lango (Paramount Chief), runs until tomorrow, Saturday, 31st October 2026, and is aimed at ensuring the clan heads undergo comprehensive general wellness checks.
Services being offered include cardiac echocardiography, eye examinations, blood pressure checks, Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) testing, lipid profile tests and HIV screening, among others.
Speaking at the launch, the Hospital's Senior Executive Consultant, Dr Andrew Odur, said that given the busy schedules of the Owitong and their limited time, the Hospital deemed it necessary to organise a targeted medical camp to enable them access routine wellness checks conveniently.
According to Dr Odur, the Owitong are influential community leaders, and ensuring they regularly undergo health screening will not only promote their personal wellbeing but also strengthen their ability to champion health awareness—particularly on non-communicable diseases—within their respective communities.
He further revealed that the Hospital plans to organise similar targeted medical camps for other categories of leaders, including political and religious leaders, to support them in accessing routine wellness checks. Dr Odur noted that this also serves to implement the geriatric medicine programme that the President has been emphasising.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Health for the Lango Cultural Institution, Prof. Dr Alex R. Ario Otema, said the medical camp was organised as a precursor to the 2nd Coronation Anniversary of Won Nyaci me Lango, with at least 178 Owitong expected to benefit from the special medical exercise.
Dr Ario emphasised that Owitong who are aware of their health status serve as symbols of hope and agents of positive health change in Lango, noting that their influence within communities places them in a strong position to promote health-seeking behaviour and encourage others to prioritise regular medical check-ups.
Some of the beneficiaries—including Jacob Opio Angeny of Atek Awili, Levision Odongo Nen Idiro of Okarowok Otiling, and Benson Odongo Okeng of Pala Okwer Ibur Dero—commended the Hospital leadership for organising the camp. They also praised the quality of services offered, particularly the quick turnaround time for test results, which enabled them to establish their health statuses.
The Owitong further appealed to the Hospital to consider organising similar special medical camps for their wives and Clan County Chiefs, to extend access to essential health services to these other categories of cultural leaders.
