The excitement surrounding the annual Miss Tourism Teso competition has reached its peak following the entry of Esther Amoyo into the race.
Amoyo, a lawyer by profession, declared her interest in carrying the mantle of the top cultural position among Iteso young women, a role regarded as one of the highest held by female youth within the cultural institution.
Martin Omongin said Amoyo’s mobilization strategy has attracted many people who believe she is the right person to become Miss Tourism Teso 2026/2027.
Omongin referred to the activities Amoyo is currently undertaking as eye-catching because she has involved herself in mobilizing not only the youth but also all people who love culture.
“Amoyo has no money, but the social capital she has built is making people join her struggle. Pallisa Town has been filthy, but to clean it, Amoyo mobilized her people under the umbrella of Team Amoyo and cleaned the town and extended their hands to Pallisa General Hospital,” Omongin said.
Dr. Otodo, the Pallisa District Veterinary Officer, lauded Amoyo’s candidature, saying she is fit for the position given her family background and her love for Teso culture.
Dr. Otodo said that, being her neighbour since childhood, he witnessed Amoyo demonstrate leadership skills and a deep love for Iteso culture, food, dressing and identity.
“The position of Miss Tourism Teso is not merely for prestige but to deeply get involved in the marketing of Teso cultural and historical sites to boost tourism and handle affairs with the office of His Highness Papa Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng, the Emorimor of Teso,” Otodo said.
Amoyo, during an exclusive interview with Dokolo Post, said what inspired her to contest for Miss Tourism Teso was the need to narrow the gap between girls and older women, who are the custodians of culture.
Amoyo said over 80% of girls from Teso do not know how traditional food is prepared, right from threshing millet or sorghum, winnowing and grinding using traditional stones.
“Iteso are the only ethnic grouping that has allowed other cultural practices to be performed even in their own functions. Marriage has completely been abused; in-laws come for introduction, dowry assessment and sometimes even a wedding on the same day, which is absolutely outside the Iteso setting. Even the type of music has changed. Once my people, who are called Iteso, get back to the drawing board, we shall only remain with names because even the language has been tampered with,” Amoyo said.
She said tourism sites in Teso should be exposed to the outside world so that the industry can be boosted.
“I have a master plan to team up with tourist officers in each district in Teso so that we can associate with big companies such as MTN, Airtel and TotalEnergies, among others, to promote tourist sites in Teso.”
She said it is regrettable that few schools in Teso participate in Music, Dance and Drama (MDD), yet it remains a guaranteed way of passing cultural norms, traditional songs and plays to younger generations.
“I will try to engage the education officers in our region to ensure that music is practised. It is a common excuse that instruments may be expensive, but this cannot stop teachers from training learners in traditional songs. It is also unfortunate that most learners at all levels have not mastered the Iteso cultural anthem,” Amoyo said.
Grace Akiror, the Minister of Culture in the Iteso Cultural Union establishment, said a lot needs to be done to revive Teso’s lost glory, which was greatly affected by the insurgency that rocked the region.
“My campaign of promoting hygiene in public places is not only going to be in Pallisa, but we are going to other places as well, including Amuria, Kapelebyong, Soroti, Katakwi, Serere, Bukedea, Kumi, Tororo and others. We also conduct blood donation campaigns, and we intend to reach schools and encourage students to participate.”
Akiror said that before the insurgency, the Iteso people were well organised in promoting their culture. She noted that even naming a baby was entirely the responsibility of older women as custodians of culture. However, she said things have changed, with young married couples now deciding privately what names to give their children, contrary to cultural practices that require a ceremony to introduce the newborn into the clan.
Who is Esther Amoyo?
Esther Amoyo is a 25-year-old daughter of Mr. Opolot Richard Patrick, a renowned medical worker at Pallisa General Hospital, and Mrs. Opolot Rose Ariebo.
Amoyo hails from Amuria District but spent much of her life in Pallisa, where her father works.
Like many children, she was taken to school at an early age and sat her Primary Leaving Examinations at St. Francis Amusala Primary School in Pallisa District. She later joined Tororo Girls School for her Ordinary Level education.
She subsequently joined Seeta High School, where she excelled and earned admission to Uganda Christian University, Mukono, to pursue a Bachelor of Laws degree.
Currently, Amoyo is a self-employed lawyer.
