By Steven Enatu
SOROTI CITY
The Iteso Cultural Union Electoral Commission Committee has nominated Paul Sande Emolot unopposed for the position of Emorimor to replace the fallen paramount chief, Augustine Lemukal Osuban who passed on in February.
The nomination took place even after the high court in Soroti issued an interim injunction on the 12th July, 2022 against carrying on with any activity related to Iteso Cultural Union.
The court order arose from a miscellaneous application number 032 of 2022 civil suit no 009 of 2022 filed by Alloch William Akol and five others being the applicants versus Paul Sande Emolot and John Francis Okuma, the respondents.
Her Worship, Jessica Chemeri the assistant registrar issued the interim orders that all activities in whatever nature related to ICU or Emorimor are halted until the determination of the main miscellaneous application No 31/2022 and both parties were ordered to maintain the status quo.
However, yesterday, the 12th July 2022 the ICU electoral commission Chairperson, Dr. Charles Otim nominated Paul Sande Emolot in a glamorous ceremony that was graced by Iteso from Kenya and other parts of the country. The activity took place at ICU headquarters in Soroti City.
Before the start of the function, William Alloch Akol ‘ICU founder body chairperson’ in company of his lawyers stormed the venue delivering a court injunction letter to the team, but was rudely later dragged out of the venue by suspected angry members at the venue.
In a phone Interview, Alloch said he was at his home nursing injuries that he sustained during the scuffle and would decide on the next course of action later.
While addressing the crowd, Dr. Charles Otim said “having assessed all the documents presented before us here, I duly nominate Paul Sande Emolot as the candidate for position of Emorimor unopposed.”
In his maiden speech, His highness Paul Sande Emolot said the event was a vital process in having another Emorimor enthroned and drive the Ateker agenda.
“I am not an angel but I have come to serve the Ateker community, let’s work together,” he said.
He noted that ICU Electoral Commission moved in all regions sensitizing the clans on the process of replacing the new Emorimor and it’s what culminated into his nomination.
“Let’s give peace a chance, let’s give unity a chance and let’s give reconciliation a chance. Together we can grow the Ateker Community, we need to change our attitude and the way we do things,” he noted.
Joseph Ojatum, the patron of the Teso Student Development Association said the move is a big milestone towards the Ateker community getting a cultural leader who will speak and represent the views of the Ateker community.
“As young people we are very happy that this is the right move, we shall not get tired until our cultural leader is enthroned and I call on fellow youths to love and embrace our culture as Iteso with peace at the back of our minds,” he said.
According to a tentative program, on the 21st August 2022, there shall be Ateker national prayers and the coronation exercise is marked for 19th to 21st November 2022.
