Paapa Emorimor Launches Iteso Family and Gender Guidelines, Declares War on Gender Violence.

By Peterson Hiirya.

The Paramount Chief of the Iteso Cultural Union, His Royal Highness Emorimor Papa  Iteso Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng, has called for a return to cultural values, discipline and responsible parenting as the Iteso community launched new Family and Gender Relations Guidelines aimed at fighting gender-based violence and protecting families.

Speaking during the launch at King George Memorial Stadium in Tororo on Tuesday, May 26, the Emorimor described the guidelines as a historic cultural document that will help restore peace, morality and stability in homes across Teso and neighboring communities.

The launch was organized in partnership with International Justice Mission (IJM) Uganda and attracted cultural leaders, clan heads, religious leaders, justice officials, survivor groups, and local government representatives.

Emorimor Emolot thanked the International Justice Mission for supporting the Iteso Cultural Union in developing and documenting the guidelines, saying the partnership had created a lasting legacy for future generations.

“What you have done for us today is memorable. It is going to build our community for generations to come,” he said.

The cultural leader also thanked the Jopadhola cultural institution for inspiring the initiative after inviting the Iteso leadership to a previous cultural book launch.

“If you had not invited us during your launch, we would not have learned something important,” he said.

The Emorimor emphasized that one of the biggest challenges facing African communities today is failure to document cultural values and practices.

He cited Guyana in the Caribbean, where communities preserved their history through proper documentation despite the painful history of slavery.

“They documented everything in black and white. That is why they have preserved their history up to today,” he said.

According to the Paapa Emorimor, the newly launched guidelines should become a “cultural bible” for families in Teso.

“Today we are launching our cultural dictionary, our cultural bible — one that should guide us in bringing peace and stability in our homes,” he declared.

He expressed concern over increasing domestic violence, moral decline and family conflicts in communities, saying many people no longer respect parents, elders and leaders as previous generations did.

“When we were growing up, we respected our parents and leaders. But because we lost morals, we are now facing many problems in our communities,” he said.

The Emorimor condemned the mistreatment of widows and orphans, saying greed and property grabbing continue to destroy families after the death of breadwinners.

“Someone dies and leaves behind children and a widow, but immediately after burial relatives begin demanding land titles, property and bank accounts,” he said.

He praised survivor groups that shared testimonies during the event, saying their experiences reflected the painful realities many women and children endured in silence.

The cultural leader also commended IJM for facilitating consultations, meetings, and drafting sessions that led to the publication of the guidelines.

“It has not been easy, but IJM stood with us and supported the teams until we reached this level,” he said.

Paapa Emorimor revealed that other cultural institutions across Uganda had already shown interest in adopting similar guidelines because family violence affects many communities regardless of tribe or region.

“I do not think there is any community that would want violence in homes or children being mistreated,” he said.

The Emorimor warned parents against neglecting children’s education and announced that cultural leaders would work closely with local governments and security agencies to ensure children remain in school.

“If you are found not taking your child to school, we shall coordinate with security agencies and police because education is the key to everything,” he warned.

He strongly condemned gender-based violence and cited a recent incident in the Bukedi sub-region where a young man allegedly killed his girlfriend after she questioned his suspicious activities.

“That must stop. We want peace in our homes,” he said.

The Emorimor further encouraged families to embrace good parenting, hard work and mentorship of young people.

He revealed that through educational support initiatives and partnerships, the Iteso Cultural Union helped more than 400 students last year to access education opportunities in various institutions.

He also shared the story of a former street child who later graduated with a doctorate after benefiting from scholarship opportunities facilitated through cultural and government support systems.

“There is nothing impossible when communities support vulnerable children,” he said.

The launch ceremony also turned into a celebration of Eastern Uganda’s growing national influence, with the Emorimor congratulating leaders from the region serving in top government offices.

He praised the people of Bukedi and Eastern Uganda for producing leaders who continue to rise to senior national positions and thanked President Yoweri Museveni for entrusting the region with leadership responsibilities.

The newly launched Iteso Cultural Union Family and Gender Relations Guidelines are expected to serve as a framework for handling domestic conflicts, promoting child protection, strengthening parenting, and aligning cultural practices with national laws against gender-based violence.