Iteso insist on dividing Tororo district
Aug 27, 2009
THE Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) has supported President Yoweri Museveni’s option to create Mukuju district out of the current Tororo district. This came up at a council meeting called by the paramount chief, Papa Emorimor Augustine Lemukol Osuban, in So
By Faustine Odeke
THE Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) has supported President Yoweri Museveni’s option to create Mukuju district out of the current Tororo district. This came up at a council meeting called by the paramount chief, Papa Emorimor Augustine Lemukol Osuban, in Soroti Lukiiko hall on Saturday.
The leaders assured the public that the new Mukuju district would not be based on tribe as alleged by the Jopadhola.
Under the proposition, Tororo will be divided into Kisoko and Mukuju districts, while Tororo municipality will become a county in Mukuju.
The union leaders said since the Government started to create more districts, the 1947 colonial demarcations had not been altered.
Osuban said the purpose of the meeting was to gather views from the Teso leaders on President Museveni’s proposal.
The President suggested that Tororo Municipality be either part of Kisoko or Mukuju, or the municipality be given a special status.
The Jopadhola and the Iteso cultural institutions were asked to consult their people on the best option. The President is expected to make the final decision in September.
“As ICU, we strongly support the President’s second option to have the municipality as part of Mukuju district. The ICU has a right to defend the Iteso of Tororo from being deprived of their land because districts have been created out of the colonial boundaries with no alterations,†said Stephen Enokokin, the environment and natural resources minister.
The vice-chairperson of the Tororo county elders forum, Paul Orono Etiang, said the struggle for a district status started in 1998 due to marginalisation and unequal distribution of the national cake by Tororo leaders.
The Cabinet recently announced the creation of 14 new districts including Kisoko and Mukuju. Residents of Tororo county, most of whom are Iteso, spent nights celebrating the initiative ,while those from West Budama opposed the move.
The Jopadhola, who predominantly occupy West Budama, say relocating the municipality to Tororo county would compromise their culture.
The Iteso elders, however, said it was not true that Jopadhola have a cultural site in the municipality.
The current home occupied by the Adhola cultural leader is a personal property, they said.
THE Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) has supported President Yoweri Museveni’s option to create Mukuju district out of the current Tororo district. This came up at a council meeting called by the paramount chief, Papa Emorimor Augustine Lemukol Osuban, in Soroti Lukiiko hall on Saturday.
The leaders assured the public that the new Mukuju district would not be based on tribe as alleged by the Jopadhola.
Under the proposition, Tororo will be divided into Kisoko and Mukuju districts, while Tororo municipality will become a county in Mukuju.
The union leaders said since the Government started to create more districts, the 1947 colonial demarcations had not been altered.
Osuban said the purpose of the meeting was to gather views from the Teso leaders on President Museveni’s proposal.
The President suggested that Tororo Municipality be either part of Kisoko or Mukuju, or the municipality be given a special status.
The Jopadhola and the Iteso cultural institutions were asked to consult their people on the best option. The President is expected to make the final decision in September.
“As ICU, we strongly support the President’s second option to have the municipality as part of Mukuju district. The ICU has a right to defend the Iteso of Tororo from being deprived of their land because districts have been created out of the colonial boundaries with no alterations,†said Stephen Enokokin, the environment and natural resources minister.
The vice-chairperson of the Tororo county elders forum, Paul Orono Etiang, said the struggle for a district status started in 1998 due to marginalisation and unequal distribution of the national cake by Tororo leaders.
The Cabinet recently announced the creation of 14 new districts including Kisoko and Mukuju. Residents of Tororo county, most of whom are Iteso, spent nights celebrating the initiative ,while those from West Budama opposed the move.
The Jopadhola, who predominantly occupy West Budama, say relocating the municipality to Tororo county would compromise their culture.
The Iteso elders, however, said it was not true that Jopadhola have a cultural site in the municipality.
The current home occupied by the Adhola cultural leader is a personal property, they said.