HomeThe Festival

Our Heritage, Our Future

Celebrating Heritage, Building a Legacy — a cultural showcase and a strategic fundraising vehicle for long-term community infrastructure.

When: Saturday & Sunday, 24–25 October 2026 · 7am till late
Where: Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, Kampala
Host: The Iteso Cultural Union, with the Ministry of Tourism – Teso
Days to go: –

The story

A home for Teso's heritage

The Teso community is rich in history, art, and traditional wisdom. Yet the absence of a centralized cultural hub has long limited the preservation and systematic promotion of this heritage. The Emaali Cultural Festival is conceived as a flagship event to bridge this gap, bringing the heart of Teso to the capital city.

By celebrating the Emaali — the industrious and creative spirit of the Iteso people — the festival serves as both a cultural showcase and a strategic fundraising vehicle for long-term community infrastructure.

Its rallying identity, Ikon Ikoku Eyauni, anchors a celebration that is at once cultural, touristic, and developmental — two days built to carry Teso’s heritage into its future.

“Bringing the heart of Teso to the capital city.”

Objectives

What the Festival sets out to do

Cultural Preservation

To showcase and document Iteso traditions, music, and language for the younger generation and the wider public.

Infrastructure Development

To raise funds for a comprehensive feasibility study for a Teso Cultural Centre and the erection of a landmark cultural monument.

Social Impact

To honour the creativity of the Emaali Producer by mobilizing resources to construct a decent residential shelter for them.

Strategic Expansion

To establish a blueprint for satellite cultural festivals across various districts within the Teso region.

Who is behind it

Hosted by the Union, endorsed by the state

The Emaali Cultural Festival has moved from concept to active implementation, with formal approvals and commitments already in place ahead of 24–25 October 2026.

Host: The Iteso Cultural Union (Einos Iteso Kopiten), in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism – Teso and the Uganda Tourism Board
Chief Guest: H.E. Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, Vice President of the Republic of Uganda
Venue: Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, granted by the Ministry of Defence & Veteran Affairs
Tourism: Partnership confirmed by the Uganda Tourism Board

With the support ofVenue granted by the Ministry of Defence & Veteran Affairs; partnership confirmed by the Uganda Tourism Board.

Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife & Antiquities

Signature experiences

Six experiences, across two days

The “Akurut” Culinary Village

Traditional Teso delicacies — Asis, Atapa, Ebeele — served with live cooking demonstrations.
The Ajosi & Akogo Dance Off

Folk-dance troupes from across the districts compete in a high-energy showcase of Teso rhythm.
Emaali Innovation Hub

An exhibition space for local artisans working in pottery, basketry, and black-smithing.
Teso Heritage Trail

A walk-through gallery tracing the Iteso story from migration to the modern era.
The Emorimor Gala Dinner

A high-level evening fundraising segment, with a silent auction of Teso-inspired contemporary art and crafts.
“Eipone Loka Iteso” Fashion Show

Bark cloth and animal-print heritage aesthetics, reimagined on a modern runway.