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We are absolutely delighted to host Thomas Lapyem Awany today for an exclusive, in-depth conversation about a life defined by resilience, leadership, and a commitment to justice. Are you excited for this? Read until the end to fully grasp some of the facts you didn’t know about Uganda that this incredible gentleman shared with me at Acacia Mall.
Who is Thomas Lapyem Awany?
Thomas is a man of many hats: a seasoned legal professional, the Managing Director of Collectica Associates, and a prominent digital storyteller who has made his mark as a star journalist at The Elephant. Widely recognized for his transformative tenure as the 20th Guild President of Gulu University, Thomas left an indelible legacy by negotiating scholarships for over 1,500 students and fostering a culture of “negotiation over resistance.”
Outside the lecture halls, he is a fierce advocate for his community, having voluntarily mediated over 1,500 land dispute cases across the Acholi and Lango sub-regions. From his roots in a distinguished political family in Nwoya to his future ambitions for Parliament, Thomas joins us to share the bittersweet memories of his childhood, the “mini-coups” of student politics, and his “no-bullsh*t” advice for the next generation of leaders in Northern Uganda.
In your own words, who is Thomas Lapyem Awany?
Thomas: First of all, I am Lapyem Thomas Awany. Professionally, I am a lawyer and also a former Guild President of Gulu University. Currently, I am the Managing Director at Collectica Associates.
What is your official date and place of birth?
Thomas: I was born on the 10th of February, in Gulu District—currently Gulu City.
Tell us about the parents of Thomas Lapyem Awany and what kind of household you grew up in.
Thomas: I grew up in a very large family. My father is the late Savio Ojok Awany, who was a Principal Officer in the Uganda Prisons Service. My mother is a Mukiga from Kabale; she was also working in the Uganda Prisons Service. They met in Luzira Prison and ended up in Gulu City. My mother is still alive; she has ten children, and I am the seventh-born. This year, she marks her 70th birthday. She is a very proud Mukiga and now a proud Acholi, and she is a mother to everybody in Gulu, Nwoya, and Acholi at large.
Where did you go for your Primary and Secondary education?
Thomas: For Primary, I went to so many schools. I went to Upper Nile Institute for Appropriate Technology (UNIFAT) Primary School in Gulu, Northern Uganda, Murchison Falls View Academy, and Christ Church. I sat for my Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) from Gulu Prison Primary School. Later, I joined St. Joseph’s College Layibi from Senior 1 to Senior 6. Afterward, I joined the Law Development Centre (LDC) and then Gulu University for my law degree.
Growing up in Northern Uganda, what’s the one childhood memory that still sticks with Thomas Lapyem Awany?
Thomas: My experience is bittersweet. I come from a very large, extended family, and the war in Northern Uganda somehow affected us. In 1986, when the NRA (National Resistance Army) was taking over power, my elder brother, General Otema Awany, was in the UNLA, and then he joined the NRA. When he sent some troops to pick up our family from the village, people took off; they thought they had come home to kill the entire family.
Later, when we managed to come to Gulu, my father realized that our elder brother had joined Museveni’s government. He said, “This government is here to stay.” Even my brother Richard Todwong, who is now the Secretary General [of the NRM], didn’t get there by mistake; he earned it. Our entire family is NRM. At one point, they were even ambushed; wearing a yellow T-shirt in Gulu or Acholi was a nightmare.
Gulu University Era | Politics & Leadership of Thomas Lapyem Awany
Why did you choose to study Law at Gulu University instead of any other course?
Thomas: I decided to study Law when I was in Senior 4. I started with a Diploma in Law in 2009. Immediately after, I joined an organization called the Center for Reparation and Rehabilitation. I worked there as a legal assistant to make sure I got the experience. Law is about how much you know to be able to execute it. I am proud to be one of the lawyers in Northern Uganda who has handled over 1,500 successful cases of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) through mediation.
You lost your first run for Guild President in 2021—why didn’t you just pack up and focus on books?
Thomas: I lost in the first guild race, but I was cheated. It was during COVID-19 times, and they decided to bring in a new system that students were not used to: electronic voting. It was very easy to maneuver. The students were not happy. But I didn’t give up. When you give up as a man, that is the last defeat you get. I came back in my fourth year and managed to get the highest votes in the history of Gulu University.
How did it feel finally for Thomas Lapyem Awany to be declared the 20th Guild President after that hotly contested race?
Thomas: It was good because it was a dream I needed to achieve because I worked for it. I was building myself since my first year when I was elected as the Faculty President of Law. I was also a member of the University Council. Recently, I was awarded for being one of the best Guild Presidents and for serving better in the University Guild Council.
Your tenure wasn’t exactly quiet; why did you have to sack your Vice President and Finance Minister?
Thomas: When I joined, there were too many strikes. The strike was because government-sponsored students received their allowances late. I told my Guild Council that we came here voluntarily to serve. So, I directed the university administration that part of our [Guild] allowances should be used to pay those students first. In my tenure, there was no strike.
While I was in Germany to benchmark for the Gulu University Teaching Hospital, the Vice President and Prime Minister decided to have a “mini-coup” to expel me illegally. When I came back, I expelled them to put them in order. They apologized, and I eventually brought them back.
Whatever happened to your big push for a University Teaching Hospital at Gulu?
Thomas: The truth is, the government, for the first time in history, when I was the Guild President, saw the budget for Gulu University rise to 35 billion per academic year. The government has approved the building of the teaching hospital at Gulu University. It is a process, and it is currently in progress.
You were recently elected as the Gulu University Convocation Chairperson—what is your first order of business?
Thomas: I actually wanted to contest, but I did not contest in the end. There was a lot of confusion, so I left it. One of my colleagues, a former Guild President, was elected.
Thomas: First of all, to me, I could say I did not fail. Because I’m not a failure. Whatever I wanted, I executed to the latter. If you go in with a mind of resistance against the administration, you will not serve well. You should be a negotiator. Before I write any requisition, I sit with the Dean, the Bursar, and the Vice-Chancellor. It is a win-win situation, and the people who enjoy that are the students.
Looking back, what was your biggest “fail” as a student leader, and what did it teach you?
The Professional Grind: Journalism & Law
How did a Law student end up becoming a star journalist at The Elephant?
Thomas: The Elephant is an online news platform. I think I was one of the first law students to cut across every faculty. I used to be very lenient to everybody. On record, when I was the Guild President, I made 1,500 students study on university scholarship through negotiation.
You write a lot about Acholi Unity and land issues—is this journalism or activism for you?
Thomas: I think it is activism because, as I told you, I have handled over 1,500 successful mediations on land injustices. I have resolved issues in Acholi and parts of Lango. It is activism in a good way to ensure people have peaceful coexistence. I go and teach the community land laws so they understand their rights. I do it voluntarily.
How do you balance being a legal professional with the “noise” of being a digital storyteller?
Thomas: My legal background was based on pro bono services. At the NGO level, I interfaced with many people at the Center for Reparation and Rehabilitation. I also became an intermediary for the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war victims. I was in the department for legal redress for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Access to Justice.
What’s the most “dangerous” or controversial story you’ve ever put your name on?
Thomas: When I opened my legal office, Collectica Associates, it was originally a Court Bailiff office. It is quite challenging because you execute consequential orders from the court. I was once issued a court order to demolish a school and a market in my own village. The truth is, I got the paper, I kept it, and I did not do it. I referred it to another firm because I couldn’t destroy what was helping my community.
The Future and The Man in
What do you do to clear your head when you aren’t chasing stories or legal files?
Thomas: First of all, I did Clinical Psychology, so I am a psychologist. I read a lot and research a lot. I am also a massive Arsenal fan, and I play rugby. I even opened an international WhatsApp group for “Elite Arsenal Supporters” across the world, and I’m the main admin.
Be honest: Are you planning a run for Parliament in the next general election?
Thomas: I was supposed to be in Parliament by now. I was contesting for Nwoya County, but the incumbent is my brother, Hon. Tony Awany. My elder brother said, since it was his first term, I should leave him to run for a second term. Unfortunately, he did not go through. So, in the next general election, I will definitely be there. By hook or by crook, I will be there.
If you had to give one piece of “no-bullsh*t” advice to the youth in Gulu, what would it be?
Thomas: When you look at our community, people still have a lot of mental illness from the war. What I would advise the young people is to be very disciplined and obedient. Set a goal. My story is that I pushed for whatever I wanted to achieve as an individual, not just as a family. It is possible if you are resilient, focused, and move toward your goal. Nothing can defeat you.
