Iteso faction registers rival cultural institution

Wrangles within the Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) have deepened after another group registered a rival institution with a similar name.

This means that the Iteso will again be subjected to an election of another Emorimor to head the ICU Ltd that became functional following its registration on December 31 last year.

The registration was done following disputed election and swearing in of the ICU council members currently chaired by Mr Paul Sande Emolot.

“We are not breaking away from the main ICU, but what we have just done is to register it so that the interests of the people of Iteso are protected,” Mr William Alloch, who claims to be a founder member of ICU, said at the weekend.
The chiefdom is currently under the leadership of Emorimor Augustine Osuban Lemukol.

On January 19, a meeting chaired by the former chiefdom minister for lands, Mr Stephen Enokokin, resolved that the Emorimor convenes a meeting within a week to address issues causing division among the Iteso. Prof Deo Olila, an elder, said registering another institution meant tearing ICU apart, adding that it will not solve the problems affecting the Iteso.
“If there is a problem in the elections, then it should have been handled internally using the ICU constitution,” he said.
While dissolving his cabinet on November 16 last year, the Emorimor, acknowledged the existence of internal wrangles within the institution, but was optimistic that they would be resolved.

Genesis
Cracks in ICU first emerged in 2011 when Ms Betty Akello, an elder who had envisioned the institution to have its own sources of income, left, claiming her efforts were not being appreciated.
Mr Gabriel Ononge Opolot, a youth leader, said the Emorimor is partly to blame for failing to tell between members who wish ICU well and opportunists.
“Emorimor is being held hostage by a few notable people whose role is to thrive under confusion,” he said.

Additional reporting by Simon Peter Emwamu
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