The Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) has postponed the 4th coronation anniversary of its Paramount Chief, His Royal Highness Papa Emorimor Paul Sande Etomeileng Emolot by one week following a request from Kenyan President HE William Samoei Ruto.
The celebrations, which were initially scheduled for October 22nd to 24th, 2026 in Kenya, will now take place from October 29th to 31st, 2026 according to the ICU.
The change comes days after President Ruto held high-level talks with Emorimor at State House in Eldoret on Saturday, August 29th, where the two leaders discussed support for the Iteso Cultural Union and development of the wider Ateker community.
ICU Minister of Information Stephen Ojacor said President Ruto expressed interest in personally attending the coronation anniversary and requested that the dates be adjusted to allow him to participate alongside a Kenyan government delegation.
“The organising committee carefully considered and accepted the request by the President of Kenya. I am therefore pleased to officially announce that the 4th Coronation Anniversary which had been scheduled for October 22nd to 24th, has now been shifted to October 29th to 31st, 2026,” Ojacor said.
During the Nairobi meeting, President Ruto and Emorimor discussed ways of strengthening development cooperation, cultural ties and economic opportunities for Ateker communities spread across Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan and other parts of East Africa.
The meeting brought together the Kenyan President, the Paramount Chief of the Iteso and Ateker people at a time when cultural leaders are seeking to translate shared historical and cultural ties among Ateker communities into greater opportunities for trade, investment, tourism and regional cooperation.
Emorimor was accompanied by Her Majesty Toto Akaliait Juliet Among Atomeileng and other senior ICU leaders and officials.
Ojacor said the engagement provided an opportunity for the ICU leadership to present its vision for the development, unity and empowerment of the Iteso and wider Ateker communities.
He said President Ruto reaffirmed the Kenyan Government’s willingness to work with cultural and community institutions in promoting development initiatives aimed at improving people’s livelihoods.
“The meeting also explored opportunities in cross-border trade and regional economic cooperation as part of efforts to strengthen the Teso economy and create greater opportunities for our people,” Ojacor said.
The discussions are expected to renew attention on the economic potential of the Ateker region, particularly through stronger cooperation between communities and governments across national borders.
According to Ojacor, one of the key outcomes of the Nairobi meeting was President Ruto’s commitment to attend the fourth coronation anniversary.
“President Ruto has confirmed his attendance at the fourth Coronation Anniversary. This has therefore made us postpone the Coronation Anniversary by one week to accommodate this important engagement,” he said.
The planned participation of the Kenyan President is being viewed by ICU as a significant recognition of the cultural importance of the Iteso and the wider Ateker community.
Ojacor said the presence of President Ruto and a Kenyan state delegation would give the celebrations greater visibility while providing an opportunity to discuss development, cultural preservation, regional integration and the future of Ateker communities.
He said the postponement should therefore not be viewed as a setback but as an opportunity to make the celebrations “bigger, more historic and more impactful”.
The adjustment has also affected other activities linked to the anniversary.
The Emorimor Cup semi-finals and final will now be held on October 29th and 30th in Kenya, with President Ruto expected to hand over awards to the winning teams.
An Ateker Business Symposium, organised under the ICU Ministry of Trade and spearheaded by ICU Minister of Trade David Asabu to bring together stakeholders from Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia to explore trade, investment and other economic opportunities for the Ateker people will also take place on October 30th.
However, ICU said the changes does not affect the Emaali Festival which will proceed as earlier planned at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala on October 24th and 25th to showcase the tourism and cultural potential of Teso and promote the region to national and international audiences.
Ojacor urged Kampala residents and people from surrounding areas to attend the festival in large numbers before joining the wider Ateker community for the anniversary celebrations in Kenya.
The coronation anniversary will mark another chapter in the leadership of Emorimor, whose reign ICU says has focused on promoting unity, peace, cultural identity and development among the Iteso.
The union has also sought to strengthen relations with other Ateker communities while advancing cultural preservation, youth empowerment, education, economic development and regional cooperation.
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