Iteso Cultural Union Mourns Founding Member Joyce Asekenye
Asekenye was a revered cultural icon who played a pivotal role in the formation and growth of the ICU since its inception in 1995.
Photo: Joyce Asekenye.
The Iteso community is mourning the loss of one of its most influential cultural figures, Joyce Asekenye, a founding member of the Iteso Cultural Union (ICU). She passed away on the night of Monday, May 19, 2025, at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, where she had been admitted for treatment. She was 68.
Asekenye was a revered cultural icon who played a pivotal role in the formation and growth of the ICU since its inception in 1995. Her passing marks the end of an era for the institution that spans across Uganda, Kenya, and the diaspora. Born in Kumi District, Asekenye dedicated her life to the preservation and promotion of Iteso culture, language, and values.
Representing Kumi in the ICU, she was one of the first women to rise to prominence in the institution’s leadership, serving for years as Minister for Culture. She helped shape the ICU’s strategic direction during its formative years and beyond. As a founding member, Asekenye was instrumental in crafting the ICU’s mission to unite the Iteso people under one cultural umbrella and promote pride in the Ateso identity.
Through her ministry, she spearheaded programs to preserve the Ateso language, promote traditional music and dance, and revive oral traditions that were fading among younger generations. “She was a strong pillar in our cultural renaissance,” said Solomon Opio, a resident of Kumi. “Her passion for our heritage and her dedication to the youth and women of Teso has left a mark that will not be erased.”
In 2022, following the death of Emorimor Augustine Osuban Lemukol, Asekenye joined other founding members—including William Alloch Akol, Stephen Enokokin from Serere, Joseph Okadapao, Pauline Apio, Lydia Agoda Acom, and Alfred Aruo, the former Mayor of Soroti Municipality—in petitioning the Soroti High Court to block the installation of Paul Sande Emolot as interim Emorimor.
The petition cited violations of the ICU Constitution (2019) in the succession process. The court issued an interim order barring Emolot and others from performing duties on behalf of the ICU, underscoring Asekenye’s belief in transparent governance and legitimate cultural succession. Despite the tensions, Asekenye reconciled with His Royal Highness Paul Sande Emolot before her death, demonstrating her enduring commitment to unity and peace within the ICU.
Outside the ICU, Asekenye served as Coordinator of the Teso Karamoja Women Initiative for Peace (TEKWIP) and chaired a GIZ-CPS-supported interest group working on conflict resolution around borders within Teso and with neighboring districts. TEKWIP is affiliated with other groups such as TeCoDLAM (Teso Conflicts around Dual Land Management Systems) and AWOLARIP (Ateker Women Land Rights Partners).
Her legacy also extended into education and youth empowerment. Asekenye participated in policy forums and community dialogues advocating for a cross-border education fund for Teso students in Uganda and Kenya. “She believed that a strong cultural identity needed to be backed by knowledge, skills, and access to opportunity,” said Sarah Akol, a former youth leader in Soroti. “Her vision for the youth was grounded in empowerment through education.”
A passionate mentor, Asekenye actively encouraged young women to pursue leadership roles in cultural and public spheres. Several of her mentees now hold key positions within the ICU and local governance. Throughout her life, Asekenye remained committed to the core values of unity, tradition, and progress. Her efforts to preserve the Iteso identity, promote social justice, and empower the next generation have left a lasting imprint on the cultural and social fabric of the Teso sub-region. Her death follows that of another prominent ICU founding member, Papa Vance Omome, the former ICU Prime Minister, who died on March 1, 2023.
