Ambassador Olara Otunnu: The Man Who Rekindled the Luo Spirit
A Journey of Pride, Purpose and Promise
There are moments in history when one individual carries the heart of a people; when a single life becomes a bridge between past and future, grief and hope, memory and vision.
For the Luo people of Uganda, that individual is Ambassador Olara Otunnu, our leader, guide and proud ambassador to the world. As the founder of Rocco Paco, he has become a steady flame that lights our path; the man who has worked to rebuild what was broken and breathe life into a dream many had thought lost: a united, proud and thriving Luo community once again.
The Pilgrimage of a Lifetime
When the call came to honour Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, the towering son of Africa, it was Ambassador Olara Otunnu who led with courage and conviction. Under his guidance, a delegation of seventy, including over sixty Bwola dancers adorned in white ostrich plumes, travelled from Gulu to Bondo. They carried not only drums and song but the collective pride of the Luo people of Uganda.
This was not simply a journey to a funeral; it was a pilgrimage of spirit and ancestry, a sacred crossing that united the Luo across borders and generations.
At Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, before the resting place of both Jaramogi and Raila Odinga, the delegation formed a ceremonial circle around the grave. The Bwola dancers, in their resplendent regalia, performed the dance of heroes, a dance reserved for kings and warriors. Their drums echoed through the air, proclaiming that the Luo of Uganda had come to honour one of their own.
Tears were shed, not only in sorrow but in pride. Pride that Ambassador Otunnu had led his people to this moment of unity, carrying the blessings and grief of an entire nation to the home of a kindred son.
A Vision of Revival and Unity
Through Rocco Paco, Ambassador Olara Otunnu has become a guiding force for the Luo people of Uganda, leading with wisdom, humility and deep commitment.
Rocco Paco is more than an organisation; it is a movement to rebuild, restore and transform a community that endured years of hardship and displacement. Under his leadership, the Luo of Uganda are rediscovering their identity, their pride and their power to shape their own destiny.
His vision is rooted in unity and self-belief. He reminds us that we are a people of strength, intellect and grace, capable of greatness when we stand together. Wherever he goes, from the villages of Gulu to the Odinga homestead in Bondo, Ambassador Otunnu carries the spirit of his people with quiet dignity and unwavering love.
Lighting the Path Forward: The Deko Kwan Mission
The work of Ambassador Otunnu does not end with remembrance; it looks firmly to the future.
He is now pouring his energy into Deko Kwan, a great mission to educate the next generation of Luo sons and daughters. Through this initiative, he dreams of nurturing a new wave of doctors, nurses, professors, engineers, lawyers, scientists and professionals, young men and women who will rise from our communities to lead with knowledge, skill and integrity.
Deko Kwan is more than an education project; it is a promise, a commitment to ensure that the next generation of Luo youth have the tools and opportunities to build the future our ancestors once imagined.
Even now, Ambassador Olara Otunnu works tirelessly to raise funds for this noble cause. He believes that education is not merely opportunity; it is liberation. It is how we heal. It is how we rise.
A Call to the Heart
He is giving us hope.
He is restoring our pride.
He is carring the voice of the Luo people of Uganda to the world.
Now it is our turn to walk with him, to help him continue this sacred work of rebuilding our community in every possible way.
Together, we can make Deko Kwan a living legacy, a light for generations yet to come.
Let us build a future worthy of our ancestors, guided by the vision and dedication of Ambassador Olara Otunnu, the man who rekindled the Luo spirit.
