The Queen of Iteso Cultural Union Her Majesty Toto Akaliait Juliet Among has confirmed that preparations are in high gear for the much-anticipated launch of the Akaliait Development Foundation (AKADEF), scheduled to take place on 21st October 2025 at Bukedea District Boma Grounds.
In a statement shared with Teso News Network (TNN), Akaliait revealed that she held a fruitful meeting with the Bukedea District leadership on Tuesday to lay the groundwork for the historic event.
“Yesterday, I had a fruitful meeting with the District leadership of Bukedea in preparation for the upcoming official launch of the Akaliait Development Foundation (AKADEF), which will be hosted by Bukedea District in the Boma grounds on 21st October 2025,” Akaliait said.
The preparatory meeting, attended by district officials, cultural leaders, and representatives from the religious fraternity, focused on event logistics, security, mobilization, and community participation.
Leaders emphasized that the launch should reflect the foundation’s core mission of promoting purity, cultural pride, and empowerment of women and girls in Teso.
District leaders welcomed the initiative, pledging full support to ensure the launch becomes a landmark event for Bukedea and the wider Teso sub-region.
The Akaliait Development Foundation (AKADEF) was founded by Toto Akaliait Juliet Among with the vision of restoring moral values, promoting purity and virginity among young women, and empowering girls through mentorship and education.
Its objectives include: Encouraging purity and discipline among young girls as a cultural and moral obligation, Supporting education and mentorship programs to reduce teenage pregnancies and early marriages, Reviving cultural identity and pride among Iteso and Advocating for women’s health, social support, and economic empowerment.
Since its informal rollout earlier this year, AKADEF has reached over 1,500 young people across Bukedea, Ngora, and Soroti districts through school visits, church programs, and community forums.
According to the foundation’s field reports, more than 400 girls are already enrolled in purity mentorship programs coordinated by local community mentors and church leaders.
Akaliait has consistently emphasized that the foundation’s focus on purity is not about policing young women, but about restoring dignity, instilling self-respect, and equipping them with tools to resist social and economic pressures.
She argues that many of the challenges facing young women in Teso, including teenage pregnancies, early marriages, and high school dropout rates, are linked to a decline in moral and cultural values.
A 2023 UBOS survey found that 27% of teenage girls in Eastern Uganda had experienced pregnancy before the age of 19, a statistic that continues to worry both community leaders and policymakers.
In Teso specifically, cases of school dropout linked to early pregnancies remain alarmingly high, weakening efforts to improve literacy levels among girls.
“Purity should not be misunderstood. It is a cultural and spiritual shield that gives our daughters confidence, dignity, and respect in society,” Akaliait remarked during the meeting.
The upcoming launch is expected to attract thousands, including religious leaders, clan elders, women’s groups, youth representatives, and government officials.
Organizers have lined up a range of activities, including cultural dances, motivational talks, purity pledges, and fundraising drives to support ongoing mentorship programs.
Local leaders have described the event as not only a launch of a foundation but also a cultural revival and moral reawakening for Teso.
With preparations now underway, expectations are high that the launch of AKADEF will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the empowerment of women and the preservation of Teso culture.
“This is a movement for all of us. When we raise morally strong, empowered young women, we strengthen the future of Teso. That is what AKADEF stands for,” Akaliait affirmed.
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