The Paramount Chief of Teso, His Highness Papa Emorimor Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng III, has intensified efforts to transform the economic fortunes of the Teso people through commercial agriculture, with the distribution of 100,000 coffee seedlings secured from the Government of Uganda.
Papa Emorimor on Thursday officially launched the distribution of the coffee seedlings to farmers at Mela Palace in Tororo District, describing coffee as a strategic pathway towards strengthening household incomes and transforming the region from a largely subsistence economy into a commercially productive one.
The initiative is being implemented as a joint effort between the Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) and the Government of Uganda, with the cultural institution seeking to use its influence to mobilise communities around economic development.
Addressing farmers during the launch, Papa Emorimor said his engagement with the Government was driven by the desire to see the economic status of the people of Teso improve.
“I wrote to the government to lobby coffee for my people. I need to see my people change their economic status, and I am eying coffee as a strong solution,” Emorimor said.
He said he was pleased with the Government's response, which resulted in the allocation of 100,000 coffee seedlings for distribution to farmers, beginning in Tororo.
“I am happy that it didn't take me long. The Government responded by giving us 100,000 coffee seedlings, and we have started the distribution here in Tororo,” he said.
The Paramount Chief urged farmers to treat the seedlings as an investment rather than simply free agricultural inputs, warning against wastage and poor management.
“Don't waste the coffee seedlings. Don't make the Government incur losses. I need us to utilise these rains properly,” he cautioned.
The vision behind the initiative goes beyond the distribution of seedlings. Papa Emorimor wants coffee production to become part of a broader economic transformation agenda for Teso, where farmers can progressively move from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture, create household wealth and establish a more sustainable money economy.
The ICU Prime Minister, Andrew Ocole, said at least 300 farmers from the 18 sub-counties in Tororo had each received 200 coffee seedlings during the initial distribution.
Ocole added that an additional 50,000 seedlings would be distributed to farmers across Greater Teso as the programme expands.
He said the beneficiaries had received training before receiving the seedlings, particularly on proper coffee planting, establishment and management.
“Farmers have been trained before being given coffee. We thank the officials from MAAIF for their effort in training the farmers on coffee planting and management. Now we trust that farmers will do the right thing,” Ocole said.
The ICU leadership says the partnership with Government is intended to complement existing efforts to promote agriculture, improve household incomes and strengthen the economic resilience of communities across Teso.
Papa Emorimor thanked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for supporting the initiative and Vice President Jessica Rose Alupo for her role in advancing the economic development vision.
The coffee programme therefore adds a new dimension to the role of the Iteso Cultural Union, with the cultural institution increasingly positioning itself not only as a custodian of Iteso identity and heritage, but also as a platform for mobilising communities around agriculture, livelihoods and economic transformation.
For Papa Emorimor, the long-term ambition is clear: to see the people of Teso use their land and agricultural potential to build sustainable household wealth and participate meaningfully in Uganda's money economy.
