Concern as adults fail to recite national, cultural anthems in Soroti

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Soroti resident city commissioner John Michael Okurut has raised concern over the declining ability of many residents to sing the complete verses of the East African, national and cultural anthems.

Okurut said he observed that several adults struggled to sing the full anthems during public events, prompting him to encourage community members to learn and appreciate their cultural significance through collective singing.

To address the issue, he plans to invite a choir master to his security meetings and other public gatherings so that adults can receive proper training on how to sing the anthems.

“I noticed during our anthem singing that some parents were not able to keep up, even though students and teachers sang along beautifully. This highlights the need for Ugandan adults to learn the anthems thoroughly, rather than relying on recorded versions from public address systems,” he remarked.

Okurut shared these concerns while serving as the chief guest at the annual general meeting held at Bethany Comprehensive Girls Secondary School in Soroti city on November 21, 2025.

He emphasised that members of the Iteso and Kumam communities should embrace their cultural identity by learning their cultural anthems, and encouraged all citizens to demonstrate patriotism by mastering both the national and East African anthems.

Parents trying to sing the Ateso Anthem.

New headteacher, Paul Opesen, agreed with the RCC’s concerns and stressed the importance of active participation in singing cultural anthems.

He warned that the tradition risks fading as many people prefer listening to radio renditions instead of learning the words.

“Even when they play on the radio, people often don’t engage with them. It’s crucial to learn these anthems by heart because they define us,” Opesen stated.

He added that the school has made the singing of the anthems, including the school anthem, compulsory three times a week to support memorisation. Parents who wish to learn the anthems are also welcome to attend the sessions.

Richard Ewalu, a resident of Oculoi subcounty in Soroti district, welcomed the idea, noting that he does not know how to sing the Ateso and Kumam anthems because he lives in Lira, far from Teso.

Phoebe Acan, a resident of Anyara subcounty in Kalaki district, said many adults rarely sing the anthems because they are often played through public address systems, which reduces the need to learn the verses.

Rev. Godfrey Obone, the diocesan education secretary for Soroti Anglican Diocese, observed that many people fail to learn all the verses because they rely heavily on recorded versions.

He emphasised that schools under the church are encouraged to have children sing without equipment so they can memorise the lyrics. He noted that documents should always contain the full anthems to help communities recall the words and melodies.

As a board member of the Iteso Cultural Union, Obone also addressed the recent neglect of the Iteso anthem, attributing it to past internal conflicts within the union. He encouraged the Iteso community to revive the practice now that the issues have been resolved.