Teso community leaders have assured residents the fourth anniversary of Emormor (King) coronation and heritage celebrations will proceed as planned despite resistance from a section of activists.
The Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) has dismissed as false claims by human rights defender Cleophas Okisai that the event should be suspended over a court case concerning the union’s legal status in Uganda.
ICU minister for roads and public works Okwara Ekirapa said there was no active court case against the union in Ugandan courts.
“I condemn the claims by Okisai with a lot of disdain. Who can object to you celebrating your own culture and in any venue you want?” Okwara said.
Okisai had called for the intervention of relevant authorities over the planned celebrations, saying there were ongoing court proceedings in Uganda.
He also called for clarification of the legal status of the ICU leadership before the anniversary and heritage festival is held.
But Okwara said individuals who had previously filed a petition in Uganda were now serving in the government of Papa Emormor Paul Sande Emolot.
“The case was withdrawn a long time ago and all petitioners are now working in the Emormor's government as ministers,” he said.
The three-day event is scheduled for October 22–24 at Amagoro Comprehensive School in Teso North constituency, Busia county.
The organising committee is headed by Chris Obukui as chairman, with Robert Papa serving as vice chairman.
President William Ruto has been invited to grace the event.
The anniversary is expected to bring together Iteso cultural leaders, community members and invited guests from Kenya and Uganda for celebrations centred on Iteso culture, heritage and traditional leadership.
The ICU, headquartered in Soroti, Uganda, describes itself as the apex traditional and cultural institution uniting the five million Iteso people spread across Kenya, Uganda and the diaspora.
It is led by the community’s cultural King, Emormor Papa Sande Emolot, and its stated role includes fostering unity, preserving Ateker heritage and promoting regional development.
The controversy over the planned celebrations comes as the community prepares to mark the fourth anniversary of the Emormor’s coronation, with organisers maintaining that the event will go ahead as scheduled.
