The long-awaited construction of the Iteso cultural palace, popularly known as Ere Iteso, has gained fresh momentum following a groundbreaking ceremony that brought together government officials, cultural leaders, and members of the Iteso community.
The palace, estimated to cost Shs52 billion, is expected to serve as the central cultural home of the Iteso people and a lasting symbol of their identity, unity, and heritage.
While representing President Yoweri Museveni at the ceremony, Vice President Jessica Alupo announced a government contribution of Shs500 million toward the project as part of broader efforts to support the growth and development of cultural institutions in Uganda.
In a message delivered during the event, President Museveni commended the cultural leader of the Iteso, Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng III, for his leadership, noting that strong cultural institutions play an important role in promoting peace, unity, and social cohesion within communities.
The President said the palace will serve as a cultural hub where Iteso traditions, values, and heritage will be preserved and promoted for future generations.
He added that beyond cultural preservation, the palace could also stimulate social and economic development by attracting cultural tourism and hosting community activities that may generate revenue for the region.
Museveni further called on the Iteso community to contribute actively toward the construction project, emphasizing that unity and collective commitment are key to ensuring the successful completion of Ere Iteso.
Speaking at the same function, Emorimor Papa Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng III described the palace as a long-awaited symbol of identity and pride for the Iteso people.
According to the Emorimor, the Iteso community has for many years lacked a permanent cultural home where leaders and members can gather to discuss cultural matters and promote their heritage.
“This palace will unite the Iteso people and strengthen our cultural foundation,” he said, urging community members both within Uganda and in the diaspora to support the construction effort.
He also congratulated President Yoweri Museveni on winning the recently concluded elections and appealed to him to retain Vice President Jessica Alupo in her position, noting that she represents the interests of the Teso sub-region and the broader Ateker community.
The cultural leader further dismissed claims that the Iteso people are divided, saying the palace project demonstrates the unity and shared vision of the community.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of the Iteso Cultural Union, Andrew Ocole, outlined a community-driven approach aimed at mobilizing support for the construction of the palace.
Ocole called on the seven clans within the Iteso cultural structure to actively participate in the project by contributing resources toward the construction.
As a symbolic gesture, he proposed that each clan contribute a chicken toward the initiative as a sign of unity and commitment to the project.
He revealed that the palace will feature seven floors, each representing one of the seven clans within the Iteso cultural system, a design intended to reflect unity, shared ownership, and collective identity.
According to Ocole, the leadership of the Iteso Cultural Union remains optimistic that with continued support from both the government and the community, the Ere Iteso palace will be completed in the coming years.
Once completed, the palace is expected to become a major cultural landmark in the Teso sub-region, promoting cultural identity, unity, and community development for generations to come.
