By Steven Enatu
KAMPALA
The Prime Minister of the Kumam Cultural Heritage, Samuel Eyenga, has applauded the strong spirit of unity and cultural pride among the Kumam people, saying it is the foundation for the rapid growth of their institution.
Eyenga, who represented His Highness Won Ateker Raphael Otaya at the Kumam Nyai Festival in Kampala, reassured the community that the King was in good health and had recently received two vehicles from government to aid his work.
“For one year now since the Kumam Cultural Heritage was set up, your love in what you do has been the cornerstone of this institution’s growth,” Eyenga told the gathering.
He dismissed critics who have questioned the visibility of the institution, noting that Kumam’s recognition is growing both nationally and internationally.
He highlighted that out of 17 cultural institutions under the Council of Tradition and Cultural Leadership of Africa, he was selected to represent Uganda, an honor he said reflected the unity and direction of Kumam as a people.
Eyenga further revealed that about five months ago, the institution hosted a royal delegation from Africa and Europe, a rare occasion that, he said, had opened Kumam to the world stage.
“As a Kumam now, be free. I can be frank today that even in this government, they are aware that there is Kumam a people who are honest, lovely and wise,” he declared.
In his report, the Prime Minister said the institution has sent names of Kumam to government for consideration in job placements and is currently supporting 20 science students through scholarships.
He also announced the purchase of a brand-new 18-seater vehicle to enable clan chiefs to move across communities sensitizing people on land rights and promoting positive norms.
To support the festival, Eyenga delivered UGX 1 million on behalf of His Highness Otaya and added UGX 500,000 from his own contribution.
Former NRM chairperson for Kaberamaido and Kalaki districts, CD Enepu, represented Kalaki MP and Minister for Teso Affairs Hon. Clement Kenneth Ongalo Obote.
In his address, Enepu contributed UGX 1 million on the Minister’s behalf and challenged Kumam voters to be vigilant in their leadership choices.
He illustrated his point with a parable of monkeys who, after killing a farmer who had chased them from his maize garden, later suffered hunger because there was no more maize to feed on.
Enepu urged the community to reflect carefully before removing leaders who are serving them well, warning that reckless choices can harm future prosperity.
The festival also heard from Jane Frances Amongin, the NRM flag bearer for Kaberamaido Woman MP, who passionately called on the Kumam community to cherish their cultural identity at all costs.
Drawing from her school days as a head girl, Amongin recalled being among the very few Kumam students alongside Professor Enyaru’s daughter, Akello Christine.
She narrated how she later encountered Ibi Florence, the former Kaberamaido woman MP, who was being bullied by fellow students. When another student reported the incident to her, she took Ibi under her care, gave her a hostel space beside her bed, and named it the “Kumam Empire.”
“Today, I am proud that Kumam boasts of a fully established cultural institution under the visionary leadership of His Highness Raphael Otaya,” she said.
Amongin urged the Kumam in Kampala to support one another in all ways possible, to be proud of their language, and to avoid the pride that distances them from their identity. “Let’s desist from saying, ‘I don’t know where I come from.’ If we are not proud of our own culture, who else will be on our side?” she asked.
She further encouraged humility among Kumam artists, noting that it is humility that opens the door to progress. Amongin also appealed to the youth and community members to desist from competing in lavish spending against people who are already wealthy, but instead focus on striving to improve their own status.
She pledged to support development in Kumam and reaffirmed her commitment to uplifting the community both culturally and economically.
The Kumam Nyai Festival drew hundreds of Kumam from Kampala and beyond, celebrating their culture with music, storytelling, and speeches that emphasized unity, pride, and the bright future of the Kumam people.
