The
migration of the Iteso did not happen independently, there are other clusters
or groups of Ateker people who were with Iteso in Abyssinia. This expedition to
Uganda started a proximately a round 1300AD
Ateker
Iteso People’s first settlement was in Turkana,
north of Kenya. They left Turkana, and moved to Moroto because of tsetse flies and other factors like drought, famine and
cattle disease caused by Ticks.
Whereas
people were leaving, one group of people decided to remain behind. The group
that remained in Ethiopia are called Nyangatom or the Dongiro “Lu Edongoto”,
while those who settled in Turkana were called the Turkana. The Turknana
got the name from the sound of the caves in the area that used to sound Tur
tur.
A
group moved and settled in Moroto are known as the Karamojong. All this
names were a circumstance of the migration. ‘Ekaraki Imojong’ the old men are
tired.
One
group left Karamoja, went westwards and settled in the south of the present day
South Sudan. These group are known as the Toposa. It’s believed that due
to lack of a diviner they strayed and got lost in the desert and found their
way in Southern Sudan (Lu opotu Iposiaros)
A
group left Karamoja in 1700 AD and moved southwards and entered a place
called Angisa in Magoro, the group of Ateker people who settled in
Magoro came to be called Iteso (Webster et al 1973) The Iteso from the
word, Itei iso ‘We have seen’ The young Energetic youth had seen water and
greener pastures so they moved with their cattle.
Another
cluster broke away from Iteso, led by Oleumo. This team went to the
shore of lake Kyoga and came to be called the ‘Kumam’ The children of
Oleumo (ikoku Olemo) they are often referred as Ikokolemo (Mamdani, 1998).
Up-to-date the Kumam occupy the Districts that border Lake Kyoga (Kalaki, Soroti
and Kaberamaido)
From
Magoro, the group that went north settled in the current Usuk area (Katakwi
district), while the group that went west settled in areas now known as Soroti,
Serere.
Those
who went south crossed Lake Bisina and named it in memory of Abyssinia and
settled in places now called Ngora, Kumi, Bukedea, Pallisa and some parts of
Kaliro.
Some
proceeded south eastwards to settle in Mbale, Tororo, Busia and western parts
of Kenya.(jones 2005).
You can also check out for present day #Soroti #Kumi #Ngora #Serere #Katakwi #Bukedea #Kaberamaido #Pallisa #Amuria #Tororo #Busia
 |
| Kokong village in Ngora district |
 |
| An online Image taken of the rock in Soroti |
 |
| An activity along the shores of Lake Kyoga in Serere |
No comments:
Post a Comment