The Teso cultural leader, Papa Emorimor Paul Sande Employ, has tasked all members of the Ateker people to work hard and join the money economy, which is currently being promoted by the government.
While closing the three-day Ateker festival on Friday, November 29th, 2024, the cultural leader said, “Today, if we are to prosper, we need to join the money economy; we need to trade together.”
He appealed to his subjects to ensure that they actively embrace the government programs that can enable them to make money for their household prosperity.
“We need to train the mindset of our people; we need to make money. Today the government has brought good roads for us to trade successfully. Let’s be reminded that we are one people,” said the Emorimor.
He also called upon his people to promote peace, unity, and love among subjects.
“We should not be again calling ourselves names; if you got an Iteso in Karamoja, just know that is your brother; let’s stop discrimination amongst ourselves. History repeats itself; if our former president Amin were alive today, he would have known that there is no difference between Kakwa and Lango people; therefore, we wouldn’t have poured much blood.
To the youths, Papa Emorimor advised young people to listen to elders, saying that they are the future leaders.
“Those children who are living in manyatas and are being prepared to be future warriors, we are saying no to that, and we are asking the government to ensure that those children are trained to become future professionals.”
Emorimor said, “Let’s ensure education for all the Ateker children; we must do everything possible to ensure that we take our children to school. It is the only way to turn the future of Ateker people.”
The closing ceremony was presided over by the Minister of Gender, Labor, and Social Development, Betty Amongi Akena, who represented the Vice President, Jessica Alupo.
In her message, VP Alupo reaffirmed government commitment in supporting various cultural institutions in the country.
She asked cultural institutions to mobilize their subjects to engage in wealth creation.
The VP emphasized initiatives to strengthen harmony among the Ateker communities and called for total participation into economic transformation of the people.
The festival that was opened on Wednesday, November 27th, by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the Soroti Boma grounds is being celebrated under the theme: Celebrating Shared Heritage, Forging a Path Toward Peace, Prosperity, and Cultural Renaissance.
The Ateker cluster includes the following tribes: Bako, vDima, Iteso, Jie, Kakwa, Kalenjin, Karamojong, and Karo, who include the Kakwa, Kumam, Lango, Maasai, Nyangatom, Samburu, Toposa, and Turkana.
The Ateker community is bound by history, culture, and kinship spread across Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
