New Emorimor roots for unity

Soroti, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The newly installed Paramount Chief of Iteso, Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng, has implored the Iteso to unite and embrace education for the development of Teso.

Emolot was enthroned at Soroti Mayor’s Garden on Saturday to replace the former Emorimor, Augustine Osuban Lemukol who succumbed to Covid-19 in February. Thousands of people traveled far and near to witness the crowning of Emolot as the third Emorimor Papa Iteso.

His coronation comes after a court battle with the rival group that contested his election as caretaker Emorimor in April. Emolot, who was then the chairperson of the Iteso Cultural Union was made the caretaker Emorimor, a decision that became contentious as ICU leadership split into factions.

But after his enthronement, Emolot said that unity and education are key among his priorities for the Iteso across all walks of life. He asked for additional scholarships from the government at Soroti University, saying that the current 100 slots given are not enough for the region.

Emolot revealed that the construction of Emorimor Palace and offices for ICU will be some of the first interventions in his reign. According to the new Emorimor, his leadership will offer opportunities for the Iteso to grow and develop from different ventures that his office will coordinate.

Hellen Adoa, the State Minister for Fisheries and Serere Woman MP asked Emorimor to extend a hand of peace and reconciliation to the rival group that took ICU to court. Before his enthronement, Emolot and his team were battling court issues with ICU founder members led by Willaim Alloch Akol and six others.

However, Jonathan Ebwalu, the Soroti West MP expressed displeasure over the government’s failure to send a representative to the coronation ceremony. Ebwalu said that although the government helped in resolving the standoff that was threatening to block the coronation of Emolot, there was no official representative.

The coronation was attended by a handful of leaders from Teso. Apart from Adoa and Peter Lokeris who are members of Ateker, there was no other minister or commissioner from the Gender Ministry at the function.

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