SOROTI DISTRICT — The 4th Coronation Anniversary of His Royal Highness Paul Sande Etomeileng Emolot—the Emorimor of the Iteso Cultural Union (ICU)—marked a historic milestone for cultural preservation and community empowerment in Soroti District from 16 to 17 October 2026.
Celebrating under the theme “For the Child,” the event united thousands of Iteso to safeguard their identity, history, and shared values. Pearl Bank served as a major partner, contributing Shs10 million, purchasing 100 run kits, and embedding tree planting and financial literacy directly into the cultural festivities.
The Iteso are a proud Nilotic ethnic group spanning eastern Uganda and western Kenya, boasting a rich cultural heritage rooted in deep communal ties, unique social structures, and a distinct spiritual worldview. Belonging to the broader Ateker language-speaking cluster, they share deep linguistic and historical bonds with the Karamojong and Turkana, beautifully blending a historic reverence for pastoral life with advanced agricultural expertise.
While the Iteso transitioned from strict pastoralism into pioneering ox-plow agricultural farming—cultivating cotton, tobacco, and cassava alongside staples—their cultural landscape has faced immense challenges. Historic 19th-century Ganda expansions and British colonial systems altered their internal leadership systems. In the late 20th century, devastating cattle rustling and regional conflicts severely disrupted the Teso sub-region. Today, modern factors like rapid urbanization and regional migration present new threats of cultural erosion.
Despite these changes, organizations in the global diaspora like the Iteso of North America Association work alongside local community leaders in Uganda and Kenya to actively preserve Ateso linguistic fluency, traditional music, and enduring values of respect and family unity.
In this modern landscape, leadership and community progress go hand-in-hand. His Royal Highness Paul Sande Etomeileng Emolot marks his fourth year as the cultural father of the Iteso. Having succeeded the late Augustine Osuban Lemukol on 22 October 2022, his leadership anchors the unity of the entire Ateker language-speaking cluster.
Toto Nosianta Emechu, Chairperson of the Iteso Cultural Union Council, emphasized that celebrations like the Coronation Anniversary are not just modern festivals, but vital tools to safeguard history, transmit values to the next generation, and strengthen community belonging.
Ahead of the main celebrations, Pearl Bank joined the Teso Run launch activities on 15 October. Godfrey Otene, the Pearl Bank Soroti Branch Manager, presented a dummy cheque of Shs10 million in support of the run.
Otene stated that the bank pursues sustainable development through partnerships that align with its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) agenda, which is guided by three commitments: scale, impact, and sustainability across education, financial literacy, health, and the environment.
“Supporting Teso Run 2026 aligns with our CSI agenda, particularly in the areas of environmental sustainability, financial literacy, community empowerment, and preservation of culture for future generations,” Otene said. “We believe empowered communities make stronger contributions to the development of our country, because when an individual or community grows, Uganda prospers.”
The celebrations officially opened on 16 October with environmental and economic empowerment initiatives at the Teso Kingdom offices, reflecting the traditional Iteso reverence for land and sustainable agricultural prosperity.
ICU Council Chairperson Toto Nosianta Emechu and Godfrey Otene led tree-planting initiatives at the kingdom offices. Otene welcomed the inclusion of environmental protection in this year’s programme, stating: “Environmental conservation is everyone’s responsibility, and we are proud to support initiatives that contribute to environmental protection, conservation, and sustainability.”
To foster long-term economic transformation within the kingdom, Pearl Bank’s Soroti Branch Business Manager, Dorothy Babuleka, conducted financial literacy sessions for participants. These workshops taught a culture of saving, responsible borrowing, and informed financial decision-making to build stronger, self-sustaining Iteso households.
“Our purpose is to foster prosperity for Ugandans, and for our people to attain this, they must gain financial literacy, which is a critical tool for economic transformation,” Otene added regarding the sessions. “Through this partnership, Pearl Bank will engage participants in financial literacy sessions aimed at promoting a culture of saving, responsible borrowing, and informed financial decision-making.”
Throughout the two-day event, Pearl Bank also ran an exhibition space where its staff interacted with customers, offered direct financial guidance, and showcased the bank’s products and services.
The celebrations climaxed on 17 October with the highly anticipated Teso Run at the Soroti Grounds. Organizers targeted 10,000 participants, with official kits priced at Shs30,000.
In Iteso culture, child-rearing is deeply communal. This year’s run, anchored by the theme “For the Child,” served as a strategic platform to promote cultural heritage and unity while directly mobilizing regional support for education, youth empowerment, and community development initiatives across the Teso sub-region.
By integrating environmental protection and modern financial tools into traditional settings, the Iteso Cultural Union and Pearl Bank actively demonstrated that preserving an ancient, proud heritage can coexist seamlessly with future economic growth.
