Iteso to hold three-day coronation anniversary in Malaba, Kenya, from 29 October

The Iteso community will hold three days of cultural events in Malaba, Busia County, from 29 to 31 October to mark the fourth coronation anniversary of its Paramount Chief, Papa Emorimor Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng III, the Kenya News Agency (KNA) reported on 18 October. The venue is Achunet Stadium.

The programme includes exhibitions, a symposium, a football tournament, cultural displays and traditional songs. The theme is "Celebrating our cultural diversity and heritage, building our palace", according to Uganda's Daily Monitor, which reported on the preparations on 19 October. The football tournament is already under way in both countries.

Organisers say more than 80 kings, 80 queens and over 50,000 visitors are expected. The Zulu Kingdom of South Africa and the Ndebele Kingdom are also expected to attend. The Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) and the Teso Kingdom expect more than 100 delegations from the Iteso diaspora in the United States, Europe and elsewhere.

KNA reported that President William Ruto and Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni are expected at the celebrations and at the closing ceremony on 31 October. Organisers quoted by the Daily Monitor said the two had confirmed their attendance.

The Emorimor is the Paramount Chief of the Iteso Cultural Union. The Iteso are estimated to number about 600,000 in Kenya and about 3 million in Uganda.

Preparations were launched at Kooli Village in Busia County on 17 October. Dismas Esamai, a member of the planning committee, said: "The key objective of the symposium is to give visibility to our businesses." He said the symposium and exhibitions were meant to turn the cultural event into an avenue for economic empowerment, aimed especially at young people and the unemployed.

Dr Nichodemus Anyang', a Teachers Service Commission commissioner, said: "This event in a special way is going to enhance relations between the two neighbouring nations." He said it would also promote unity among the Iteso communities living on either side of the border.

David Emoot, the ICU and Teso Kingdom ambassador to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and secretary-general of the anniversary celebrations, called on the Kenyan government to recognise the Iteso community in Kenya, the Daily Monitor reported.

Elders will also use the celebrations to teach life skills to young people. Among the ICU's achievements, KNA listed a special fund that has sponsored local people to study at Soroti Flying School and Makerere University, and scholarships that have helped others study in India.