The Kumam belong to the Atekerin family together with the Langi, Iteso and Karimojong in Uganda. This is the group of people which is often referred to as the Nilo-Hamites who migrated from Abyssinia which is present-day NorthEastern Ethiopia around AD 1600. The Kumam live in western areas of Teso Sub-region and Southern parts of Lango Sub-region. In Teso, they are found in
Kaberamaido, Kalaki, Soroti and Serere districts and in Lango sub-region they are found in the districts of Dokolo and Amolatar. Today, they can also be tracedto other areas of Uganda particularly in Busoga, Tororo and Buganda.
The assumption that Kumam borrows dialect from Ateso is not accurate because there is no Ateso dialect but Ateker dialect which is shared by Kumam, Iteso, Karamojong and Langi. In terms of settlement, the Kumam settled along the shores of lake Kyoga, where they interacted with the Lou group of People that influenced Kumam language.
The Karimojong use the same word kumama when referring to the Iteso, the Langi and the Kumam as people who left Abyssinia in Ethiopia. The Luo who settled in northern Uganda, came into contact with the Atekerin peoples who were also at the same time moving from the southeast and founding settlements in the northeastern Uganda, in the districts of Dokolo and Amolator. The fact that their language is half Luo and half Ateker, lends some truth to this presupposition.
Kumam 
The Kumam had a loose political structure under clan leaders known as wegi Atekerin. The other leaders of importance in the society were wegi ikodeta Cel(leaders of dancing groups) and leaders of Asonya homes, wegi Cel. The wegi Cel were in most cases Dogolan or Odonge ikekoros (heads of part of a clan descending from one man). Then under the Odonge ikekoros were the family heads. These clan leaders were responsible for the maintenance of law and order as well as general administration. They arbitrated in matters of politics and social affairs in the traditional justice courts. Resource ownership and their distribution was communally done or under clan leadership. Consequently decisions on land, cattle and marriage were made by the clan. If a clan member
kills a person of another clan, blood compensation would be made to the victim’s clan; which was usually seven cows.
Kumam
Once the elder who had been head of the clan becomes too old to lead or has become sickly or about to die, the elders begin to plan for a replacement. The process starts with elders whispering among themselves the names of possible candidates within the clan. The candidate could be the son to former leader or a brother to former leader. The qualities they look out for are: physical strength/energy, demonstration of good character, wisdom, and good leadership skills can help the clan. A day is selected to officially announce the person the elders have chosen. The members of the clan gather in the meeting place called “Auret” or under a big tree in an open place called “Ebar” then the elders would announce the new clan leader. Once the announcement is made, people would quickly
arrange a seat from the logs and sticks around for him to sit on. Strong men along with elders would then carry him and toss him up saying “Ejakait wu dono, pore wore”.
The new leader then choses a day to address his people. In his home on that day, he must organize a feast and cook food for the whole clan. His family members and neighbors help in the cooking. People gather at “Auret”, and he sits on his seat of power, “Abanya”, a three-legged stool and talk to the people who would sit in front of him. After people have settled down, he stands up and addresses them on how he wants his leadership to be, and things he does not want people to do like killing fellow clan members, theft or wrong attacks.
He then selects a team of strong men whom he will work with, called “Igangeta atie Ibekan” and present them to the people after which he gives people food and celebrations with music and dance follows. All wealth or property got during raids after an attack are divided among the people, however, the clan leader takes a great percentage of it. The clan leader also is given what is called “me piny” which is a portion of meat from cattle killed during a raid.
