The Storied TEYA Leadership Academy and the Challenge of Filling the Big Shoes of Chairperson Arok Dut Arok
By Gai Karanja Sr., Kampala, Uganda
Sunday, 15 March 2026 (PW) — The Twic East Youth Association (TEYA), like other organizational outfits of the Twic East community, has been an outstanding academy of leadership. From the onset of Mabior Deng-Wutung Mabior Atem to the COVID-19-impeded era of Ajang-Ateer Diing-Mamuor, TEYA continues to set standards.
In 2021, Dr. Garang-Gatem Atem Ayiik redoubled the foundation, and from 2023–2025, Mr. Arok Dut Arok set a bar that will be difficult to achieve. Arok Dut didn’t stop after his term; he stepped down from TEYA to become an undersecretary in the Ministry of ICT. It is the pressure Arok Dut has caused us that is the subject of this article.
First of all, it wouldn’t make sense to start any conversation about TEYA without mentioning that it has provided a leadership avenue to the young Twic stalwarts.
The winners, and many who lost, such as Chol Yaak Akoi-Lonhdit and Dut Atem-Mayaar, are key prospects for leadership in Twic.
Among the leaders, should we rate them, Mabior Deng-Wutung can take 6/10. Ajang was hit by COVID-19 but still respected the constitution by stepping down in time: 7/10. GATEM revamped it: 8/10, and Arok set the bar at 9.5/10.
Despite Arok’s scintillating performance as a TEYA Chairperson, the speed with which he moved to the Ministry of ICT, barely nine months after stepping down, counts for TEYA’s legacy, and this is something Junior, the incumbent chair, and incoming leaders such as Mabil Ajak should be worried about.
Arok is not stopping there as just the undersecretary, I believe. With the same energy and dedication with which he delivered without a budget, the wonderkid is a prospect for a ministry in 2-3 years.
The only young person in Twic who is safe from the pressure of Arok Dut is Ruth Muka Ahou Abit, and maybe Dut-Abiany. The rest of us understand that it is an insurmountable problem.
On a special note Beny Arok, you may recall that Hon. Ateny Wek Ateny is a Twi. He attends many events across the country but if you critically examine him in any Twic function, one wouldn’t hesitate to conclude that he’s your own son.
In this way, Hon. Ateny Wek Ateny may have a roll in your nomination and endorsed by president Salva. So it goes without saying that your appointment emanated from that line and your performances at TEYA.
Therefore, you are expected to demonstrate maximum loyalty and discipline to your bosses.
Lastly, congratulations, Beny Arok Dut Arok, wën ci ro cuor!
Gai Karanja Sr.
March 15, 2026
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