Mr Zacheus Bakoma Elango and Chief Dr Atem Ebako
By Ahone Heidi
The South West Regional Assembly President, Zacheus Bakoma Elango, has distanced both himself and the institution from the statement of his Vice, Chief Atem Ebako, criticizing the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako of “disrespecting” Chiefs.
Chief Ebako, who is the President of the SW House of Chiefs had in a letter rebuked the Fako SDO for threatening traditional rulers if they failed to attend National Day celebrations.
The South West Regional Assembly President, Bakoma in ripost disagreed with Chief Ebako noting he should have instead reinforced the SDO’s message to the Chiefs. He also accused Chief Ebako of stalling the government’s effort to restore peace in the SW Region.
Dr. Chief Atem Ebako, President of the South West House of Chiefs had fired back at the SDO with a strongly-worded letter dated May 19, 2025. In his rebuttal, Chief Ebako acknowledged the importance of National Unity Day but decried what he described as the SDO’s “rude and callous” treatment of traditional rulers. According to the chief, the message was not only disrespectful but also undermined the divine honor and cultural dignity of traditional institutions.
While Chief Ebako’s letter gained traction on social media, drawing both commendation and criticism, it also triggered an institutional backlash. Later that same day, the President of the South West Regional Assembly issued his own response in a letter of observation, distancing the Assembly from Chief Ebako’s correspondence. The Assembly President contended that the Chief acted without consultation or authorization from the Regional Assembly, thereby violating Section 312(1) of the General Code of Regional and Local Authorities.
“Writing on the official headed paper of the South West Regional Assembly without the knowledge and consent of the president on a sensitive issue of that nature is not only misrepresentative… but equally violates standing provisions and previous calls to order,” the Regional Assembly President wrote. He reiterated that the only official spokesperson between the Assembly and the public is the President of the Regional Executive Council.
The Assembly President further rebuked Chief Ebako for missing an opportunity to promote peace and unity. “In your capacity as President of the House of Chiefs, you could have added your voice to that of the administration by urging your colleagues across the region to turn out massively… Unfortunately, by your correspondence, you are combating global State and collective efforts to bring back normalcy to our beloved region,” the letter stated.