President Yoweri Museveni met with Vice President Jessica Alupo and Papa Paul Sande Emolot, the Paramount Chief (Emorimor) of the Iteso Cultural Union, at State House, Entebbe, on Tuesday, 24 July.
During the meeting, Vice President Alupo informed President Museveni that Uganda has been selected to host this year’s Ateker Cultural Festival.
The annual festival unites the Ateker community, which includes the Karamojong and Iteso of Uganda and Kenya, the Turkana of Kenya, the Toposa of South Sudan, the Nyangatom of Ethiopia, and the Masai of Tanzania.
“Ateker Cultural Festival takes place once a year either in Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, or Uganda, but Uganda has never hosted it. According to the Ethiopian Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu, the festival will be hosted by Uganda this year in November,” the Vice President stated.
Alupo further explained that the festival will be held at Soroti Sports Grounds and will run for three days, from 27 to 29 November.
President Museveni assured the Ateker community of his support and confirmed his attendance as the Guest of Honour. He also urged the leaders to promote unity and socio-economic transformation among their people.
“These people must change so that they live a better life,” he said.
The President warned against tribal wars, cattle rustling, and pastoral nomadism, which he said impede development.
“You are exactly one hundred and thirty years behind your other brothers. These tribal wars were present in all these areas; the last war between Ankole and Rwanda was in 1895, and there was the Bunyoro-Buganda war. However, these wars have since stopped. From 1900, they never happened again,” the President said, referring to the current tribal conflicts marked by raids among the Ateker.
Regarding the issue of stopping nomadism, he said it was very wasteful and should be ceased as it hinders development.
“Children don’t get immunised, they die, they don’t go to school, there is no income. People must change so that they can live a better life,” President Museveni added.
The President also expressed concern about the water issue in Karamoja and questioned why the leaders pocket the Shs800 million allocated to each district for water. He tasked Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu to investigate where this money is being channelled and to report his findings.
Papa Sande Emolot thanked President Museveni and the Ugandan government for their continuous support of cultural institutions in the country.
“Having this festival in Uganda is a very big opportunity for us as the Ateker people,” Papa Sande said. “Your Excellency, I would also like to thank you for loving Teso. You have made us very proud in Teso,” he added.
This year’s festival aims to consolidate peace, promote team building, celebrate unity, and explore economic opportunities among the Ateker community.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, the Ethiopian Ambassador to Uganda, Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu, Members of Parliament from Karamoja and Teso, as well as Iteso and Karamoja cultural ministers.