UGANDA: AS ROCCO PACO LAUNCHES ACHOLI SCHOLARSHIPS, CHIEF JUSTICE OWINY DOLLO DECRIES UNTAPPED SOCIAL CAPITAL IN THE SUB-REGION

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Dr. Filder Lanyero Ojok (middle) unveils a list of 59 scholarship beneficiaries of Dero Kwan Bursary Scheme, at Watoto Church in Gulu City, February 17, 2025. Seated on her right is Amb. Olara Otunnu Co-chair of Rocco Paco Initiative (Photo by Okumu Livingstone Langol).

Rocco Paco enacted 23 Acholi Customary Law which was launched on 29, December 2024, at Restore Leadership High School, under Pongdwongo Resolution. One resolution is about “Dero Kwan” literally meaning pooling resources to support education.
Under the “Dero Kwan” scheme, Rocco Paco unveiled 59 pupils as beneficiaries of the Rocco Paco scholarships, with the criteria picking on the most vulnerable who are either total orphans, or those from single parents or living with foster parents. Dr. Filder Lanyero Ojok, who heads Rocco Paco Acholi Bursary Scheme had tears of joy rolling down her cheeks as attendants gathered for a group photo opportunity.
Among the challenges identified as affecting Acholi education are lack of leadership, corruption and accountability issues.
Ogenrwot Kevin, a disabled person, who was a pupil at Gulu Primary School and got 14 aggregates in last year, 2024, Primary Living Examination, was among the 59 beneficiaries of the scholarship.
Kevin was born, a bouncing baby boy 14 years ago but got abandoned by his father. Five years after his birth, while studying at a school in Paimol, Agago District, while going home for breakfast at around 11:00 a.m., he experienced a sharp headache and blacked out altogether.
Later Kevin lost his sight but soldiered on, changing school to Gulu Primary School that has a special needs component. He earned his aggregates 14, winning for him the scholarship.
GULU CITY – MONDAY, FEB 17, 2025
By Okumu Livingstone Langol
Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo, Co-founder of Rocco Paco, addressed Acholi District Leaders during a stakeholder strategic engagement meeting at Watoto Church in Gulu City on Monday Feb. 17, 2025.
He emphasized the region’s untapped human capital, saying the untapped potential from these human capital in Acholi, if made proper use of, is panacea to growth and development in the sub-region.
The Chief Justice noted that one way to tap this potential is the “Dero Kwan” Bursary scheme that targets potentially able but vulnerable pupils as beneficiaries.
“Rocco Paco has shown me that we have many capable individuals who prioritize the well-being of our people,” Owiny Dollo stated.
“During my one-year mobilization tour of 26 chiefdoms, I discovered that our grassroots communities are eager to contribute to education scholarships like Dero Kwan. “Every contribution to the bursary scheme, whether UGX 10 million or UGX 1,000, is valued equally,” Chief Justice Owiny Dollo asserted.
Owiny Dollo advised Rocco Paco that the key to overcoming poverty in Acholi lies in coffee production. He cited the introduction of coffee in Buganda by British Colonial Governor, Sir Eskett Bell, where people from other regions were forced to work on coffee plantations in Buganda.
“The difference lies in what our people brought back home (after working in the coffee plantations),” “While people from Ankole Sub Region returned with banana stems, our people came back empty-handed. “Today, 70% of bananas in Kampala come from Western Uganda,” Owiny Dollo informed.
Owiny Dollo envisioned a future where Northern Uganda is forested with coffee plantations, mitigating environmental degradation and climate change.
“We should learn from our past,” he said. “When our fathers returned from World War II, they dedicated their pensions to education scholarships. We can do the same. If (Late) Anania Akera had grown coffee instead of tobacco, he would have been one of the richest people in East Africa,” Dollo said.
The late Anania Akera was a progressive tobacco farmer who lived up to 105 years, passing on in 2019. He was the first then Acholi District Chairman in 1962, a first Acholi degree holder who trained as a teacher but devoted most of his energy to commercial agriculture. He loved tobacco farming and the Chief Justice Owiny Dollo asserts that he would have been much better off as a coffee farmer.
Owiny Dollo also highlighted the decline of livestock in Agago District, from 53,000 cows in 1986 to just 4,000 four years later.
“This is the root of poverty in our region,” he emphasized. “We are not competing with anyone; we are spectators. But I say, ‘Acholi Lupyem, (are resilient, yearn to be counted), we will rise up again,” Dollo said.
The Rocco Paco, that the Chief Justice Alfonse Owing Dollo referred to has the following stewards. Communication team includes Dan Oola Odiya, Chris Ouma, and Jimmy Oringa. The Dero Kwan Management include Prof. Alonzio Ojok, Filder Lanyero, and Amos Awira. The Revival School Education Centre has Charles Odoch Langoya. The tree planting team includes C.D Langoya and Onen Bob.
Others are the district coordinators namely: Engineer Onono Moses for Gulu, Eng. Charles Ocaya and Filder Auma for Kitgum, Alice Acayo for Agago, Dr. Opira Otto for Lamwo and Mr. Okello Godwin for Omoro.
Meanwhile Amb. Olara Otunnu, a co-founder of Rocco Paco warned the organisation to guard against undermining the significance of Chief Justice Owiny Dollo’s presence among them. He emphasized that the apex of power in Uganda lies among the Presidency, Speaker of Parliament, and the Chief Justice.
Mr. Odoch Langoya, a strategic planner for Rocco Paco shared his strategic plan to improve education performance in some secondary schools. He emphasized the need for teachers to take responsibility for their students’ performance and for schools to prioritize education over other activities.
Dr. Filder Lanyero Ojok, heading the Dero Kwan Bursary Scheme discussed the challenges they faced in selecting pupils for sponsorship. She emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the selection process.
Ms Harriet Christine Ayaa, Director of Education and Sports, presented her plan to develop sports in Acholi Sub Region. She emphasized the importance of sports in building the nation and inspiring the youth.
Caroline Rose Adong, Councilor for Disabled persons, expressed her concerns about the criteria for selecting sponsorship beneficiaries. She argued that Rocco Paco should target disabled parents and prioritize games and sports for disabled pupils.
Luboyo Aber, Gulu City Councilor, advised Rocco Paco to prioritize coffee production and value chain marketing. She also suggested sponsoring medical doctors as heart specialists.
Christopher Opiyo Ateker Gulu District Chairman revealed that he fell victim to bush burning by unknown people that claimed his two-acre coffee plantation. Rocco Paco Acholi has a clause against bush burning, Customary Law Number 22 (Cik Pa Kaka Makwako Wango Piny).