Yumbe set for second annual Aringa cultural festival

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Moral decay, especially among the youth, has been blamed on several factors, especially the lack of cultural values and norms due to poor upbringing.

The story is not any different in Yumbe district, which is dominated by the Aringa people, who are often mistaken to be part of the Lugbara.

In a move to instil discipline and a sense of origin among the youthful Aringa, a section of young and educated youth in Yumbe under their umbrella, Yumbe Vibe Team, with support from the district community development office, introduced the Aringa Cultural Festival with its first edition held in December 2024.

Since then, the event has been labelled as an annual fest, attracting Aringa people from all walks of life. This year, the edition is scheduled for Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Unido Club.

Gerald Ejoyi, team leader of the central organising committee for the event, says all is set for the event. "Last year was a learning point. This year, we plan to have it bigger and better with lots of traditional activities," he says.

Ejoyi adds that the event will begin on December 19, 2025, with a stakeholder's dialogue at the District resource centre to discuss better ways to promote the Aringa culture and how it can be used to promote hard work and discipline.

The dialogue is expected to also discuss better modalities to address the rampant cases of drug and substance abuse among the youth, as well as teenage pregnancy.

"Local research has shown that over 70% of the youth in the district engage in drug and substance abuse. We want to discuss a way forward," he says.

"The report from the district health department indicates that in 2024, over 6,000 young girls got pregnant in Yumbe," Ejoyi adds.

According to Ejoyi, the night of December 19, 2025 (Friday) will be for the elders to tell the history of the Aringa people through oral tradition.

"We want to document our history so that it can be read like any other in this country," he said.

Ejoyi adds that besides the dialogue, they have planned for other traditional activities such as traditional dances, cooking of traditional food, display of traditional tools of weapons and defence and also traditional domestic items such as cooking pots.

Rogers Adriko, Programs officer Aringa Cultural festival. (Credit: Adam Gule)

Rogers Adriko, the programmes officer for the festival, said they expect over 3,000 people for the event, with the Royal Highness, Adnan Engamule Doka Charaka III, expected as the chief guest.

Yumbe district community development officer Austin Andemani said the district has adopted the festival and will be including it in the annual district budget.