The Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) has announced key adjustments to the much-anticipated Third Coronation Anniversary celebrations of His Royal Highness, Papa Paul Sande Emolot, Etomeileng, the Emorimor of the Iteso.
The changes, unveiled this week by ICU Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Andrew Ocole, include a shift in the date of the coronation fete as well as the unveiling of a charity-focused run aimed at addressing the education challenges in Teso sub-region.
Speaking at a press briefing, Rt. Hon. Ocole explained that the coronation celebrations, originally scheduled for October 22, have been rescheduled to Saturday, October 25, 2025, in Bukedea District.
The shift, he clarified, was necessitated by the ongoing nomination exercises for Members of Parliament across the country.
“We all know this activity was supposed to be on October 22. However, the date coincided with the parliamentary nomination days, October 22 and 23, when many of our sons and daughters would be preoccupied,” Ocole said.
“To avoid conflict and to enable everyone to attend, we prudently moved the coronation to Saturday, October 25, when most will be free.”
The Prime Minister stressed that the rescheduled date would ensure a larger turnout and allow the Iteso community to participate fully in honoring their cultural leader, Papa Emolot, while also contributing to the broader development agenda of Teso.
While the Third Coronation Anniversary will serve as a celebration of Papa Emorimor’s leadership, ICU leaders emphasized that the event will go beyond cultural fanfare.
It will double as a platform for mobilizing resources to address pressing social challenges, particularly the crisis in education.
Rt. Hon. Ocole revealed that this year’s theme is “Supporting Girl and Boy Child Education.”
As part of the program, ICU will hold the Emorimor Coronation Run, a charity-driven sporting event designed to raise funds for the Emorimor Education Fund.
“Education remains our biggest challenge,” Ocole said. “Many of our children, both girls and boys, drop out of school due to poverty, early pregnancies, and lack of support. Through this coronation, we want to put education at the center of the Iteso agenda. This is our chance to support the next generation.”
The Prime Minister urged the Iteso community, corporate sponsors, and development partners to actively support the run by purchasing kits and participating.
He emphasized that nurturing young people would help address the growing concerns about idle youth joining unproductive social groups such as the Okadibong and Ikok, which have become prevalent across the region.
Peter Emmanuel Eriaku, the Executive Director of the Iteso Cultural Union Development Forum (ICUDEF), expounded on the initiative during the same briefing.
He underscored the need to invest in education and skills training to counter the alarming dropout rates and associated social ills in the Teso sub-region.
Eriaku noted that decades of insecurity, poverty, high HIV/AIDS prevalence, and teenage pregnancies had contributed significantly to school dropouts.
Many of these young people, he said, had gradually formed organized groups such as the Okadibong and Owok-wok, now considered a growing social threat.
“When youth drop out of school, they often become unruly and later join groups that disrupt our communities,” Eriaku explained. “We cannot sit back and watch. We must provide alternatives through education and skills training.”
To address this, ICU has proposed the establishment of the Ateker Skilling Institute, a vocational training center targeting school dropouts.
The institute will equip disadvantaged youth with employable skills, enabling them to earn a decent living instead of resorting to crime or unproductive activities.
Additionally, the Emorimor Education Fund will support a scholarship scheme for bright but financially challenged students, ensuring that talented sons and daughters of Teso can complete secondary and tertiary education without being forced out by tuition hurdles.
Eriaku announced that the Emorimor Coronation Run 2025 will be held on October 18, 2025, ahead of the coronation day.
The run will start at Soroti Sports Ground and feature two categories: a 5-kilometer run and a 10-kilometer run.
He said the routes had already been mapped and preparations were in advanced stages.
“This run is more than just a sporting event. It is a clarion call to all Iteso, our friends, and development partners to stand with Papa Emorimor in raising resources for education,” Eriaku said. “Every step we take is a step toward securing the future of Teso children.”
The fundraising campaign was earlier kick-started at Sheraton Kampala Hotel on September 26 with a breakfast launch that attracted dignitaries, business leaders, and well-wishers.
The regional launch this week marked a renewed effort to mobilize support within Teso.
According to ICU, the coronation anniversary will feature a series of cultural, social, and educational activities leading up to the main fete in Bukedea.
These include community dialogues on education, youth skilling exhibitions, and cultural showcases.
Papa Emorimor, since his enthronement, has consistently championed education as a cornerstone of social transformation in Teso.
His call to the Iteso diaspora, local leaders, and partners has been to unite around initiatives that lift the next generation out of poverty.
Organizers say this year’s coronation will embody that vision by directly linking cultural pride with tangible development interventions.
In his closing remarks, Prime Minister Ocole thanked all organizations and individuals who had already extended support but urged more stakeholders to join in.
“This is not just about celebrating Papa Emorimor; it is about safeguarding the future of Teso,” he said.
“We appeal to sponsors, partners, and well-wishers to walk with us, run with us, and support us in building a better tomorrow for our children.”
He emphasized that every contribution, whether through participation in the run, direct sponsorship, or donations to the Education Fund, would leave a lasting impact on the community.
As the countdown to October 25 begins, the ICU leadership is rallying all Iteso to embrace the coronation festivities as both a cultural celebration and a developmental milestone.
The fusion of tradition with education-focused initiatives marks a new chapter in how cultural institutions in Uganda are positioning themselves as partners in national development.
The Third Coronation Anniversary of Papa Paul Sande Emolot, therefore, promises not only to reaffirm his leadership but also to inspire a collective commitment to nurturing the children of Teso.
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About Author
Thanks for the update and changes towards the expected date of 22/10/2025 to official date of 25/10/2025, is most welcomed. Am Mustafa Eroni Okilipa, Director Nambale Zone, for Busia Out Growers Company Limited, BOCO, my contacts+254 714 9 4 71 68, 0754953368