Iteso Cultural Union Launches Inaugural Emaali Cultural Festival to Showcase Teso Heritage

What the report says

The Iteso Cultural Union has launched the inaugural Emaali Cultural Festival, a two-day event planned for October 24 and 25, 2026, at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala. According to Nile Post, the festival was unveiled at the Uganda Media Centre and is being organised with the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and the Uganda Tourism Board.

The launch was led by Charles Eweku, minister of tourism in the Iteso Cultural Union, speaking on behalf of Emorimor Papa Paul Sande Emolot III, the cultural leader of the Iteso people. Organisers said the event is intended to celebrate Iteso heritage, promote tourism, support youth empowerment and create economic opportunities for communities in the Teso sub-region. They also described it as a way to preserve indigenous knowledge, folklore, music, oral history and heritage sites such as the Nyero Rock Paintings.

The festival’s theme is “Celebrating Heritage and Building the Legacy of the Iteso People,” with the regional slogan “Teso to the World.” Nile Post reported that visitors can expect traditional music, dance, food, sports, exhibitions and cultural symbols, while local artisans and small businesses are expected to gain a platform to sell crafts and products. Organisers said the event could also strengthen ties among Iteso communities in Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan, and deepen cultural exchange with other groups in Uganda.

The union said it hopes the festival will grow into a flagship annual event and help position Teso as a cultural tourism destination, reflecting a broader push in Uganda to link heritage preservation with tourism development.