Akellogum Agape Acholi Cultural Dance Organization
Akellogum Agape Acholi Cultural Dance Organization
About Us
Vision Bearer
Akellogum Patricia Oneka is a dynamic cultural ambassador, visionary leader, and proud Acholi princess. She is the founder and leader of the Akellogum Agape Acholi Cultural Dance Organization, an ensemble devoted to preserving, promoting, and celebrating Acholi heritage through traditional music, dance, and storytelling. Under her leadership, the organization has become a beacon of cultural pride, unity, and youth empowerment.
More than a cultural figure, Patricia is a woman deeply rooted in faith. Raised in a strong Christian home, she was brought up in the house of the Lord Jesus Christ, where her identity and purpose were shaped by God’s word. Her life and mission are anchored in the truth that “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33, ESV). God is always first in all she does.
Her vision to help others flows from her love for Christ and her calling to serve. As a powerful woman of God, she believes she is chosen for such a time as this — to build, to uplift, and to transform lives. “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” (Proverbs 31:25, NIV). With grace and boldness, she steps into leadership with compassion and conviction, trusting that the Lord directs her path.
Patricia’s lineage is equally rich in cultural and royal heritage. She is the daughter of Laker Roseline and the granddaughter of Ataro Madelena. Her mother hails from the respected Pangura Clan of Anaka Town Council, Nwoya District, and is married to Komakech Justine. Laker Roseline is the daughter of Ataro Madelena, a revered matriarch and the wife of the late Chief Muttu Lagara Isarael of the Patiko Kal Clan, located in Patiko Kal, Patiko Sub-county, Gulu District.
This noble heritage — steeped in royalty, cultural wisdom, and spiritual devotion — has profoundly shaped Patricia’s identity. She draws strength both from the legacy of her ancestors and the promises of God, walking boldly in the assurance of Jeremiah 29:11: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.’”
Her life’s work is a powerful testimony to the strength of Acholi culture, the power of faith, and the enduring influence of women in leadership. Through her ministry of dance, culture, and service, Akellogum Patricia Oneka continues to inspire generations to rise with purpose, walk in truth, and serve with unwavering faith.
Proverbs 11:14 (NIV)
For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.
The Organization
Akellogum Agape Acholi Cultural Dance Organization was founded with the purpose of restoring, preserving, and celebrating Acholi cultural values—especially among the younger generation. Raised in a royal household, Akellogum Patricia Oneka was immersed in cultural education and traditional practices from an early age. These include:
- Instruction in various traditional Acholi dances, such as Myel Bwola, Ajere, Lacukucuku, Larakaraka, Myel Lyel, and Myel Joke.
- Training in organic and sustainable agriculture, emphasizing chemical-free food production for healthy living.
- Knowledge transfer in preparing traditional Acholi foods, including highly nutritious local dishes like boo, malakwang, odii, dek ngor, dek apiya, and otwor.
- In-depth mentorship in social and economic values including:
• Hard work
• Respect
• Obedience
• Sharing
• Marriage preparation
• Leadership
• Visioning and long-term planning - Continuous informal education in cultural discipline and community leadership.
These teachings formed the foundation of her life and have inspired the vision to pass this cultural wealth to the next generation.
Origin of the Organization’s Vision
Inspired by the transformational impact of these cultural values on her own life and success, Patricia felt a deep burden to act. She recognized that today’s youth are struggling—caught in a cycle of poverty, hunger, broken families, school dropout, teenage pregnancy, and a loss of cultural identity.
These challenges are largely the result of the 20-year Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency, which led to mass displacement, social disintegration, and erosion of traditional Acholi systems. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics 2019 Poverty Survey ranked Acholi as the poorest ethnic group in Uganda, with a staggering poverty index of 68%.
In response, the Akellogum Agape Acholi Cultural Dance Organization was established as a cultural and empowerment movement—to restore pride, dignity, knowledge, and opportunity among the Acholi people.
Impact of the Organization
Since its inception, the organization has achieved significant milestones, including:
- Initiation of construction of a community hospital in Bweyale.
- Formation of a dynamic cultural dance troupe.
- Training and sensitization of 543 youth on life skills and cultural values.
- 16 cooking demonstrations on how to prepare traditional, organic, and healthy meals.
- Establishment of a savings and cooperative society to promote financial literacy and organization development.
- Opening of the organization’s official bank account to support transparency and sustainability.
- Creation of an organization demonstration farm in Bweyale, used for training in sustainable agriculture.
- Lobbying and distribution of:
• 42 pigs (sows)
• 67 she-goats
• 16 cows
to youth in Kole, Bweyale, and Patiko. - Performance of Acholi traditional dances in:
• Juba, South Sudan
• Kigali, Rwanda
• Kisumu, Kenya - Hosting of Acholi cultural exhibitions in the same cities, showcasing heritage through dance, music, food, and artifacts.
- Establishment of three tree nursery beds to promote environmental conservation and climate resilience.
- Execution of community health outreaches, focusing on HIV prevention and management.
Goals
- Cultural Preservation – To preserve and promote Acholi traditional music, dance, and food as a source of pride, unity, and identity among the youth.
- Youth Empowerment – To equip war-affected youth with practical life skills and vocational training for economic independence.
- Environmental Conservation – To promote sustainable agricultural practices and climate change adaptation through community-based initiatives.
- Community Development – To reduce poverty and rebuild broken communities through inclusive, participatory, and culturally rooted approaches.
- Health & Wellbeing – To promote healthy living through traditional organic food preparation, psychosocial support, and moral guidance.