Summary:
- Vice President Alupo emphasized the sacred and historical significance of these sites, which have been central to Iteso culture for generations.
KATAKWI: In a bid to generate income and promote development in the region, Vice President Rtd Maj. Jessica Rose Alupo Epel, alongside members of the Ateker community of Yangatom from Ethiopia, visited the Okolimo initiation site in Ogetoma Cell, Northern Ward, Usuk Town Council, Katakwi District.
The visit aimed to consult with members of the Igetoma clan about plans to construct a modern monument at Aituket Okolimo, intended to serve as a tourist attraction.
Vice President Alupo emphasized the sacred and historical significance of these sites, which have been central to Iteso culture for generations. She noted that they also serve as training grounds for Iteso Cultural Union officials.
Alupo described Okolimo as a historical landmark that will be safeguarded by cultural monuments and enclosed to ensure the preservation and appreciation of Iteso heritage and traditions. She underscored the importance of culture as the foundation of humanity, emphasizing its role in preserving values and connecting biblical teachings to customs.
She also called for the reunification of the Ateker people, particularly the Karimojong and Iteso, referencing a historical curse by Okolimo against Karimojong cattle raiders who had killed his son.
His Excellency Hailemariam Desalegn, Ethiopia’s former Prime Minister and Patron of the Ateker people in Africa, stressed the importance of Ateker unity for growth and development across the continent.
Lemukol Samwiri Okolimo, born on March 23, 1902, and passed away on August 24, 1947, was a prominent figure who migrated from Abyssinia (Ethiopia) between the 18th and 19th centuries. He initially settled in the mountainous region of Apolon, between Ethiopia and Uganda, before moving to Karamoja and eventually to Katakwi, accompanied by his only son.
According to clan narratives recorded by Charles Okwi and the late Fr. Dickens Kigen, Okolimo was a divinely guided leader who played a pivotal role in Teso’s history. He established the Igetoma clan, which expanded into 24 sub-clan zones, including Igetoma Ikolituko (Aitutuket), Igetoma Iriata, and others.
Okolimo is remembered for his interaction with Semei Kakungulu and his role in establishing what is now the Usuk Sub-county offices. He also organized rain dances with the Ateker community and is credited with protecting Teso’s land from encroaching tribes.
During the November 28, 2024 visit to the ancestral site, Vice President Alupo, former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam, and representatives of the Ateker Yangatom community endorsed the initiative to transform the initiation site into a tourist attraction. The fifth generation of the Okolimo lineage welcomed the project, recognizing its potential benefits for the clan and the broader community.
The clan’s speaker, Joseph Otim, also known as Pendara, urged the government to allocate scholarships for orphaned children within the Igetoma clan. He called for a portion of the monument’s construction budget to be funded by the Ministry of Tourism. Additionally, he proposed that mineral deposits identified at the site be assessed, with a share of the proceeds benefiting the clan.
Community members such as Lazarus Ekinyang, Filbert Otim, and Oonyi Richard, chairperson of Ogetoma Cell, expressed gratitude for the initiative. They noted that the monument would bring economic opportunities to the clan and surrounding areas.
Hon. Geoffrey Omolo, LCV chairperson of Katakwi District, welcomed the proposal to preserve historical sites in Teso, highlighting its potential to spur regional development.
“I call upon the leaders of Teso to embrace unity and peace in the region if we need to see development,” Omolo said.
Hon. Bob Owiny, councillor for Tubur Sub-county in Soroti District and an LCV aspirant, stated that preserving tourism sites would catalyze development and transformation in the region.
Hon. Stephen Ochola, LCV chairperson of Serere District and chairperson of LCVs in the Teso sub-region, commended Vice President Alupo for her vision to enhance Teso’s development.
“We now need leaders in Teso who can join hands with LCVs to champion wealth creation and socio-economic development in the region,” Ochola remarked.
The planned Okolimo monument reflects a collaborative effort to preserve cultural heritage, foster unity among the Ateker community, and promote socio-economic development in Teso and beyond.
