The
establishment of ICU, Iteso cultural
Union has been labelled as looking for a sense of belonging. Iteso as early
as 1930’s were looking for a leadership, a union that would spear head the
Ateker Iteso people of East Africa. In 1930 Makerere College Graduate Nathan Olei Proposed a creation of Iteso
East African Union but it was blocked by the colonial government on suspicion
to disentangle their rule. In 1940 the heads of counties (Ibukui) in Teso also
proposed the formation of Oduwe Oduk, it also failed to materialize and live to
the expectations of their founders. In 1945 the County heads again tried to
start an organization called ‘Amootoi Na Iteso’ it was also at a time when
World war II veterans were returning and the colonial government also blocked
its formation.
During Insurgency, a period between 1987- 1993 Teso passed through a difficult time of turmoil, the source of livelihood was stolen. The cattle were taken, crops destroyed, families dispersed and living in camps as Internally displaced people IDPs. Because of what transpired, Teso loving people like Akello Grace ( Check Wikipedia for more information) organized Demonstration in Soroti town and this attracted media attention. The president also invited Akello and asked her what the problem was? The challenges of Teso in the 19th century was leadership. The Local Teso chiefs could not speak one language to defend the people. The NRA government was killing innocent Iteso purpoted to be UPA’s Uganda people’s Army rebels and there was no one to speak on the behalf of Ateker Iteso.
A
group of concerned Iteso having felt the agony and having seen a leadership gap
proposed the creation of ICU in 1994 and one of the versatile Etop Writers Sos Opak proposed ‘a union’, they came
together and formed ICU as a team of
Teso devotees they included among others Sos
Opak, Aloch william, Vance Omome, Joseph Okadapao, Martin Alfred Aruo,
Paphrus Imodot etc. Its first Emorimori was Papa Paprus Imodot and the
1st prime Minister was Papa Vance Omome.
Iteso Cultural Union was then
established in 1995 under the provisions of the 1995 National Constitution of
the Republic of Uganda that recognized cultural institutions. The Union is
sponsored by, and comprises of all Iteso clans with the specific objectives of
uniting all the Iteso people of East Africa and in the Diaspora for purposes of
cultural preservation and pursuit of modern development projects for Teso.
The 1st Interim Emorimori was Papa Paprus Imodot, His
Highness Olemukol Osuban Adugala was the second Emorimori elected by the
delegates conference in 1998 and thereafter installed in the year 2000
supported by a Clan Council, Cabinet, Team of advisors and a foundation of clan
executives throughout Teso Region. He had
been in Power from 1998- 2022 when he went to join the ancestors.
The Institution has been
operational for the last 25 years. The
current Emorimori is papa Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng from Tororo. His
governance shields a large Chiefdom covering Kapelebyong, Katakwi, Soroti,
Serere, Kumi, Bukedea, Kaberamaido, Kalaki, Pallisa, Butebo, Amuria, Tororo,
Busia, Serere and Ngora districts of Uganda, the Teso North, Teso South, and
Busia Districts of Kenya and the Diaspora.
#Emuria Koliai
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Akello Grace Rep. Amuria member to parliament in 1994. Teso woman leader who organized a walk around Soroti town carrying a coffin to demonstrate mistreatment of Iteso by NRA Soldiers.
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