By Justine Oteu Ekinyomit Iteso
TESO/UGANDA
The process of finding a successor to the fallen Papa Augustine Osuban Lemukol, former Emorimor of Iteso has begun with the appointment of the Caretaker, office of His Highness Emorimor.
This was revealed yesterday 22nd February 2022, when Papa Sande Emolot, the Chairperson of the Union Council of Clans met with over 50 delegates from Kenya and Uganda in Soroti City.
Papa Emolot said that the institution of Iteso Cultural Union was guided by its Speaker, Rt. Hon John Francis Okuma that in the event of the demise of Emorimor, the Chairperson of the Union Council of Clans care takes for six months.
Consequently, Papa Sande Emolot kick started the succession process by beginning the wider consultation with various stakeholders yesterday in strict observance of the Constitution of Iteso Cultural Union.
This comes only a few days after Papa Iteso Emorimor Augustine Lemukol Osuban was laid to rest at his home in Serere District.
Speaking to the delegates, Papa Emolot asked the delegates to suggest options going forward in the running of the institution for the next six months with effect from 5th Feb 2022, the day the Emorimor died to 5th August 2022, the end of 6 months Constitutional interim period because the constitution doesn’t provide for any vacuum.
The Chairman advised that Council should be able to convene and declare 30 days mourning period for Ateker to mourn Papa Augustine Osuban as soon as possible.
Papa Emolot referred the delegates to the Iteso cultural Union law which lays out steps to be followed in the event of a vacancy in the office of Emorimor.
He said according to Article XV d) of Iteso Cultural Union Constitution, the Chairperson of the Union Council of Clans is empowered to Care take the Union as Emorimor for a period of Six Months while Organising Elections through an Interim Electoral Commission.
The meeting ended with a resolution to strictly follow and defend the established laws and educate the Iteso people on the constitutional provisions available.
The meeting also resolved that the Caretaker Emorimor should embark on Ateker Wide Consultation, region by region to generate consensus on Issues Iteso and their clans hold dear.
This consultation will be with the various Categories of Iteso and Greater Ateker .
It was also resolved that the office of the speaker should issue a Road map for Succession for approval by Council to be popularized in all the 1500 Sub clans.
The Ateker wide Consultation Shall be with:
- Iteso Committee of EIK Founding Elders.
- Regional Iteso Clan Shield Bearers/ Luibukui Consultations in Four Regions of Teso Nation namely; Northern Teso -Soroti, Southern Teso -Tororo , Central Teso -Kumi and Eastern Teso -Amagoro.
- Teso Intellectuals -at Universities, Colleges, Government, Humanitarian Agencies and Private/Business Sectors.
- Ateker Teso internal and External Diaspora
- Ateker Parliamentary Fora
- Teso Students Association Members and Affiliates of both Uganda and Kenya.
- Greater Ateker Nation Leadership -Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda.
- Teso Kenya and Uganda Devolved governments.
- Teso Kenya &Uganda Educational and Spiritual Institutions.
Team in the office of the Interim Emorimor were asked to coordinate with all Districts of ICU and various stakeholders of ICU.
