Soroti, Uganda: The Bukedea County Member of Parliament-elect, Mr Okwere David Beecham, on Sunday represented Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among at a high-level Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) meeting, where leaders were urged to prioritise unity and development in the Teso sub-region.
The meeting, held at Soroti Hotel, brought together political, cultural and religious leaders to discuss strategies for advancing the Teso development agenda under the ICU strategic plan.
Delivering the Speaker’s message, Okwere said Among remains committed to supporting cultural and development initiatives in Teso, including the construction of a palace for Paul Sande Emolot.
“The Speaker would have loved to be here in person but asked me to represent her. She is fully behind the plans to construct a palace for Emorimor and supports education programmes initiated by the kingdom,” Okwere said.
He conveyed Among’s call for leaders in the region to embrace unity and avoid internal conflicts that derail development.
On his own behalf, Okwere pledged continued support to the Iteso Cultural Union and made a cash contribution of Shs10 million towards the construction of the cultural palace.
He also challenged residents to abandon practices he described as retrogressive. “Let’s focus our energies on developing Teso as a whole and stop cheap acts like witchcraft, which are a major cause of poverty,” he said.
Emorimor pushes for palace construction
Hosting the meeting, Papa Emorimor Paul Sande Emolot emphasized the importance of unity among leaders, noting that cultural cohesion is key to regional development.
“I am a cultural leader without a home. I cannot freely host fellow cultural leaders without a palace,” Emolot said, stressing the urgency of constructing a permanent cultural institution.
He commended government support, highlighting the role of Vice President Jessica Alupo in launching the palace construction initiative.
Emolot likened unity among political, religious and cultural leaders to “three cooking stones” necessary for delivering development.
However, concerns were raised over persistent political divisions in the sub-region following recent elections.
John Julius Okaki noted that uniting leaders remains a challenge. “The continued differences after the February elections are affecting cohesion in Teso,” he said.
The meeting attracted newly elected Members of Parliament and district leaders from across the Teso sub-region, signalling renewed efforts to align leadership towards a shared development agenda.
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