By Steven Enatu
SOROTI
Soroti District local government has officially handed over land along Serere road plot 15-17 to Iteso Cultural institution meant for the construction of the Iteso Home and its administrative block.
The event took place at the said land yesterday 25th January, 2022 that used to house ICU since 1999 with few ICU cabinet members led by the deputy Prime Minister, Valerian Ejalu who was representing both Emorimor and Prime minister amidst a handful of members.
Soroti district was represented by the Chief Administrative Officer Aggrey Winston Muramira, local council five chairperson, Simon Peter Edoru Ekuu and the district speaker, Stephen Olebe.
According to Edoru, the District has signed the transfer form and handed it over to the institution in order for them to process the land title.
However, on Thursday 30 December 2021, the same piece of land was handed over to the Iteso Cultural union council members headed by Paul Sande Emolot by Soroti district local government represented by the vice chairperson of Soroti District Samuel Enangu. This was refuted by the Soroti district boss who said the function was not meant for handing over land.
“My vice came to attend the ICU council meeting because we were invited. He did not hand over anything, not even any document. I have just handed over the land documents to the institution now, “he said.
He added that the district has been waiting for the instruction from His Highness Emorimor for the handover and this date was set by Emorimor.
The ICU council held on 30th December 2021 had in its agenda the issue of accountability from the office of the Paramount Teso chief Emorimor and hand over of the District land for the construction of the ICU headquarters.
In the meeting, Emorimor was not present and his cabinet.
During yesterday’s handover, Jonathan Maraka in charge protocol, media and public relation officer ICU told journalists that the previous purported handover was fraudulent, illegitimate, and null and void.
He said the function was organized by unscrupulous people who strategized themselves thinking they would receive the documents of the said land.
“But today all of you could see the physical presence of Soroti district local government handing to the rightful person that is the Deputy prime Minister of Iteso Cultural union who was representing the Emorimor and Prime minister who is the custodian of ICU properties. The previous meeting that took place here was illegal and the council itself was suspended by His Highness the Emorimor on grounds that the members of the same council were not genuinely elected,” he said.
While giving his speech on behalf of Emorimor, Ejalu said that ICU has the main objective of uniting the Iteso and condemned people who are spearheading division amongst the Ateker community with selfish interests.
Paul Sande Emolot the chairperson ICU council said the development has not reached him personally adding that the ICU council is legit because there is no District that has petitioned.
