The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Nairobi, Kenya | NEWS CORRESPONDENT | The Office of the Jago (Prime Minister) of the Tieng Adhola Cultural Institution has urged Ugandans living in Kenya to remain united and harness their skills, businesses and networks for the development of their homeland.
The call was made on Saturday, 31 October 2026, as the Ugandan Community at Tangaza (UGACOT) celebrated Uganda’s 64th Independence Anniversary at the Savants of Mary in Karen, Nairobi, under the theme “Uganda @64: One People, One Heritage, One Responsibility, One Future.”
Speaking on behalf of the Jago (Prime Minister) Josel Richard Obbo, Owere Usher Wilson, Minister in charge of Jopadhola in the Diaspora, conveyed greetings and blessings from the cultural leader, Kwar Adhola Mose Owor. He told the gathering that distance and borders could not dilute the blood, culture and values that define the Jopadhola and Ugandans at large.
“The Office of the Jago recognises you not just as citizens living abroad but as our primary ambassadors, our intellectual engine, and our economic backbone in the East African Community,” Owere said.
Addressing the lecturers and academicians in the audience, he saluted their contribution to projecting Uganda’s intellectual capacity across the region while challenging them to bridge the gap between diaspora research and home-grown solutions. “Let us find ways to mentor our young students here and back home,” he said.
To the business community, Owere praised the entrepreneurs, traders and corporate leaders for their resilience in a foreign market, their job creation and their remittances to both the Kenyan and Ugandan economies. He urged them to seize the opportunities offered by East African Community integration and invest back home, particularly in agriculture, value addition and cross-border trade.
Turning to students, he described them as the crown jewel of the future, urging them to study with focus, innovate with passion and maintain integrity. “Remember, the Tieng Adhola Institution is counting on your generation to bring modern skills back home,” he said.
Dhopadhola language key
Owere also called for unity among Ugandan umbrella associations in Kenya, asking businesspeople to mentor students and lecturers to guide young graduates. He emphasised the importance of passing on Dhopadhola, the language of the Jopadhola, and of instilling values of faith, respect, hard work and communal solidarity in the diaspora’s children.
“A tree without roots cannot withstand a storm. No matter how high we fly, we must never forget where we anchored our nests,” he said, urging Ugandans in Kenya to support one another and keep their culture alive.
The formal speeches were matched by the rhythm of a community celebrating its roots. The stage came alive with performances from across Uganda, including Bagisu dancers, Western Ugandan songs and Baganda melodies, alongside samples of Jopadhola culture from the diaspora.
The ceremony began with prayers before giving way to the cultural showcases. The mix of performances reflected the theme of the day, “One People, One Heritage,” as Ugandans from different regions and communities danced together in celebration of 64 years of independence.
Who are UGACOT?
The celebration brought together Ugandan students, lecturers, religious men and women, professionals, entrepreneurs and friends of Uganda for a moment of thanksgiving, cultural appreciation and national reflection. UGACOT, whose name derives from Tangaza University, draws members from institutions such as Utume, Consolata University, the Apostles of Jesus, seminaries, scholasticates and formation houses of various religious congregations.
Samples of Jupadhola in Diaspora @Jadwong https://t.co/OZx7yejF4g
— Workers Defender (@OUsher35364) October 31, 2026
UGACOT President Mark Owora, of the Congregation of Holy Cross, earlier described the Prime Minister Obbo as a respected leader and cultural ambassador of the people of Tororo and the wider Tieng Adhola community, whose presence greatly enriches efforts to strengthen bonds among Ugandans away from home.
The occasion also saw the official launch of the UGACOT Signature Project, an initiative aimed at acquiring plastic chairs to facilitate community gatherings, educational activities and cultural events. Owere closed his remarks with assurances that the Tieng Adhola Cultural Institution remains fully committed to supporting the diaspora, with its doors open to ideas, expertise and investments.
“Let us stand tall, proud of our Ugandan identity, proud of our cultural heritage, and determined to leave a legacy of excellence here in Kenya and back home in Uganda,” he said, before blessing the institution, Uganda and host nation Kenya.
