A.E. Weatherhead

A.E. Weatherhead was a British colonial administrator who served in South Africa, Uganda and the Seychelles. Arthur Evelyn Weatherhead became the first District Commissioner of West Nile District. In 1914, the Southern portion of the Lado Enclave was assigned from Belgium to Uganda under the British Protectorate. Weatherhead took over the administration of the 'New Area' and built a station in Arua, the present headquarters. He drew the first plan of Arua Town. Locally, Weatherhead was nicknamed Njerekede/ Ejerikedi (a brave honest man they could trust and who trusted them). A road in Arua is named after him, that is the Weatherhead Park Lane. It starts from the Main Roundabout adjacent to the Golf Course and extends east towards the Presidential Suite in Anyafio Village.

He waged continual war against Lugbara groups in an attempt to impose British Colonial Rule. He referred to the Lugbara as “wild and unattractable”, and as “shy and unorganized”, requiring “severe measures before submitting to administration”. Following the British policy of indirect rule, he used the chiefs appointed by the Belgians for administration and control.