Cultural Leaders Urged to Champion Unity and Positive Traditions at Royal Enstoolment in Serere.

By Skika Reporter.

Colorful royal regalia, booming traditional drums, and richly dressed cultural leaders from Uganda, across Africa, and the global diaspora filled Toto Royal Villa  Palace in Serere as AIDO Network International conducted a grand royal enstoolment ceremony and dinner banquet aimed at promoting cultural unity and the spirit of Ubuntu.

The ceremony attracted kings, queens, chiefs, and royal delegates adorned in majestic robes, crowns, animal skin ornaments, ceremonial staffs, and traditional fabrics representing different African cultures and kingdoms.

Cultural drummers and dancers lined the palace grounds, beating royal drums and blowing traditional horns as processions of dignitaries entered the venue amid cheers and cultural chants.

At the center of the ceremony was the enstoolment of royal members under AIDO Network International, an occasion that involved the conferring of royal names, presentation of instruments of power, and administration of oaths of service rooted in the African philosophy of Ubuntu, emphasizing humanity, unity, and service to society.

This, presided over by the AIDO Network International founding president His Royal Highness Paul Jon’s Eganda and his wife Her Majesty Queen Grace Eganda.

Speaking during the event, His Royal Highness Won Ateker Papa Me Kumam Raphael Otaya praised the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni and the government for supporting peace and cultural institutions in Uganda.

“We would not be celebrating this day if it was not because of the wisdom of His Excellency Presdient Museveni and his government,” His Royal Highness Raphael Otaya said.

His Royal Highness Raphael Otaya used the occasion to challenge cultural leaders and kings to move beyond ceremonial leadership and actively promote positive cultural values within their communities.

“It is not a joke as usual, but it now calls for duty to ensure that we preserve and promote our culture and the positive culture,” he said.

The Kumam cultural leader condemned harmful practices including domestic violence and child marriage, saying such negative traditions should no longer have a place in modern society.

“We know the negative cultures in our midst, like domestic violence, like marriage of underage children and others. The negative cultures should be seen from the past,” His Royal Highness Raphael Otaya said.

He further urged cultural institutions to support government poverty alleviation and development programs such as Parish Development Model (PDM) and GROW, saying they are intended to improve the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.

“All these programs are meant to ensure that our people live better lives. So it is up to us to ensure that we help the government to ensure that these programs succeed,” he noted.

His Royal Highness Raphael Otaya emphasized that cultural institutions should unite communities instead of fueling divisions and conflicts.

“These kingdoms are given not to fight one another. We want to live together, to bring our people together, unity,” he said.

“This is a kingdom without borders. That is why we have a king from the Zulu, he is here. That is why we have a representative of the king from Buganda, he is here. Now, for us, why should we fight? Unity is number one.”

The royal leader further called upon leaders to become role models in society and promote peace, development, and social responsibility within their communities.

His Royal Highness Raphael Otaya also appealed for the promotion of the spirit of Ubuntu and warned against sectarianism and division.

“Anybody who preaches sectarian tendencies is an enemy of Uganda,” he said.

As the ceremony concluded, prayers were offered for peace, safe journeys, and continued unity among cultural institutions across Africa and the diaspora.

“May the Almighty God bless all of you, give all of you safety on the road, be it on the water or even on foot as you go back home,” His Royal Highness Raphael Otaya prayed.

The event marked one of the significant cultural gatherings hosted in Serere, bringing together diverse royalties in celebration of African heritage, leadership, Unity.