The Iteso King-elect, Emorimor Sande Emolot, has announced that his focus after swearing-in in November will be to build a modern palace for the Iteso kingdom.
Emolot, who was endorsed by 2,000 delegates on Saturday to take over the leadership of the Iteso said with the palace in place, the community will have a centre that will oversee the Iteso Cultural Union’s (ICU) operations which primarily involve uniting the community as well as championing for development in Teso.
The King in Teso is referred to as Emorimor.
Saturday’s endorsement of the Emorimor-elect followed the death of his predecessor Augustine Lemukol Papa Osuban who died on February 5.
“My focus will be to build a modern palace,” Emolot, who until Papa Osuban’s death served as the ICU Prime Minister said.
“The Emorimor died without a palace and I am challenging everybody in Teso to contribute to this noble idea. We will also be closely working with our partners to make sure we get a palace.”
The palace will be located in Soroti town in Eastern Uganda. The Iteso regard Soroti as their headquarters.
Emolot said any serious cultural institution must have a palace.
“I know we might face a few challenges here and there but that should not kill our spirit in achieving this goal. I am ready to dialogue with everyone in Teso for purposes of building a strong cultural institution,” Emolot said.
The ICU had expected to conduct an election to elect the new Emorimor on July 23. However, the election did not take place since Emolot did not have a competitor in the race to succeed Papa Osuban. This led to his unanimous endorsement by the 2,000 delegates drawn from both Kenya and Uganda.
The Kenyan delegation that was led by ICU deputy Prime Minister in charge of Kenya region Fredrick Adungo comprised of 240 delegates drawn from Teso North, Teso South, Teso Central and Nairobi.
The Nairobi team was led by Geoffrey Ipalei, Romano Otiti and Agnes Masake.
Other delegates came from Nambale, Matayos and the counties of Bungoma and Trans Nzoia.
RAILA’S CONTRIBUTION
Emolot spoke five months after ODM leader Raila Odinga promised to build a modern palace for the Emorimor and a cultural centre for the Iteso in remembrance of the Emorimor Osuban.
Like the palace, the cultural centre will also be located in Soroti.
The former prime minister on February 18 said the ODM party will facilitate construction and completion of the two investments.
If the idea is actualised with the help of Raila as he promised in February, the palace will be the second to be built with support from outside Uganda.
The first of such a palace was constructed in 2001 for the Queen mother of Tooro Kingdom Best Kemigisha by then Libyan President Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
The palace is occupied by the King of Tooro Kingdom Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
The structure was built in 1963, but was ruined after the abolition of kingdoms by President Idi Amin Dada.
Raila made the promise in a speech read on his behalf by National Resistance Movement Eastern Uganda vice chairman Mike Mukula during the requiem mass for the Emorimor Osuban in Soroti.
Lemukol died on February 5 at Mulago National Hospital in Kampala. He had earlier been admitted to Soroti Regional Hospital before being referred to Mulago.
Raila in his speech said the promise will be fulfilled.
“I had a commitment with Papa Emorimor, myself and our party ODM, which has very strong support among the Iteso, we will help set up a cultural centre and a palace for the community. We will do everything in our ability to make this happen, in honour of Papa,” Raila said.
“As a party, and as a leader, we look forward to working closely with the people of Uganda to strengthen the ties of the two countries and our people. That is what Papa stood for and wished.”
Raila has for more than a decade enjoyed a cordial relationship with the Iteso.
The community occupies three subcounties in Kenya—Teso North, newly created Teso Central and Teso South in Busia county. The Iteso are also spread in Busia’s neighbouring subcounties of Nambale and Matayos as well as Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties.
Kenyan and Ugandan leaders including Malaba Central MCA Bernard Papa who represented Governor Sospeter Ojaamong at the event and MPs Fred Ang’ura (Tororo South) and Elijah Okupa (Kasilo) who spoke after Emolot’s endorsement called for the modernisation of Agriculture in Teso to ensure the region is food secure.
The Osuban advocated for the planting of at least one fruit tree in every homestead in Teso.
