The Iteso community will mark the fourth anniversary of their cultural leader, His Royal Highness Papa Paul Sande Emolot, with a grand celebration in Busia next month. The event, scheduled for October 31 at Amagoro Comprehensive School, is expected to bring together 80 kings and queens from across Africa. President William Ruto and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, are among the dignitaries expected to attend the celebrations.
The Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) minister for roads and public works, Okwara Ekirapa, confirmed that preparations for the high-profile event are progressing well. A planning committee chaired by Chris Barasa is holding regular meetings to ensure the success of the event. Ekirapa stated that the celebrations will bring together Ateker communities to showcase their shared cultural heritage and create a platform for discussions on regional cooperation.
The Ateker communities, which comprise a group of clans and communities bound by shared customs, laws, lifestyles, and common ancestry, will be represented at the celebrations. The communities include the Karamojong, Jie, Dodoth, Iteso, Kumam, and Langi in Uganda; the Turkana and Iteso in Kenya; the Toposa and Jiye in South Sudan; and the Nyangatom in Ethiopia. The attendance of President Ruto and Museveni is expected to elevate the anniversary into a major regional cultural gathering.
President Ruto confirmed his attendance when he hosted a delegation of Teso leaders led by Emorimor Emolot at Eldoret State Lodge on August 29. The celebrations were initially scheduled for October 22 to 24 but were rescheduled to October 29 to 31 to accommodate President Ruto's diary. Various activities will take place on October 29 and 30 before the celebrations culminate on October 31 in the presence of Ruto and other dignitaries.
Representatives from Ateker communities in Turkana, South Sudan, and other regions are expected to attend the celebrations, alongside governors, senior government officials, and traditional leaders. The Zulu King of South Africa is among the invited guests, although Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has not yet confirmed his attendance. The event is set to give the celebrations an international cultural dimension.
The ICU minister, Okwara Ekirapa, expressed optimism that the celebrations will be a success, citing the ongoing preparations. He stated that the event will promote the welfare and interests of the Ateker communities in East Africa. The anniversary celebration is also expected to provide a platform for discussions on regional cooperation and cultural exchange among the Ateker communities.
The fourth anniversary celebration of His Royal Highness Papa Paul Sande Emolot is a significant event for the Iteso community, marking a major milestone in their cultural calendar. The event is expected to promote cultural heritage, regional cooperation, and unity among the Ateker communities. With the attendance of President Ruto, Museveni, and other dignitaries, the celebrations are set to be a grand and memorable occasion.
Key points
- President William Ruto and Yoweri Museveni are expected to attend the fourth anniversary celebration of His Royal Highness Papa Paul Sande Emolot in Busia next month.
- The event will bring together 80 kings and queens from across Africa, including the Zulu King of South Africa.
- The celebrations will promote cultural heritage, regional cooperation, and unity among the Ateker communities in East Africa.
