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THE ITESO people: background
It is believed the Teso are closely related to the Lango and to have come from Abyssinia-Ethiopia. By the first half of the 18th century they had settled on the shores of L. Salisbury. Tradition asserts that the ancestors of the Iteso came form the direction of Abyssinia through Karamoja. Historians have modified this tradition to assert that the Iteso are a Nilo- Hamitic group with similar origins as the Langi, the Karimojong, the Jie and the Kumam.The Iteso live in eastern Uganda in the districts of Soroti, Kumi, Amuria, Katakwi, in Palisa and Tororo districts. Others can be found in Western part of Kenya. The political insecurity of the early 1990’s caused many Iteso to move as far as Iganga district.
Political set-up.
The clan was a basic social and political unit. It was administrative and judicial in character. Initially, Iteso society was comprised of nine clans. The subsequent clans are said to have broken off from the nine. Each clan had a leader called Apolon ka Ateker. He was normally elected form other elders at a merry ceremony known as Airukorin. The person selected as Apolon ka Ateker was usally a person of courage, impartiality and wisdom. The actual inauguration ceremony involved opening up a road that had been deliberately blocked for about two weeks. Previously, the Apolon ka Ateker was greatly respected. He acted as an arbitrator in the event of disputes. During the British colonial administration his position was reduced to that of a third grade chief and referred to as Omusalatuo.
conflict in Teso
This centers on truth-telling, reparations (including material compensation and acknowledgment of responsibility for the offence(s). committed, this basic process includes: The importance of either the individual or the clan taking responsibility for the offence and also ensuring that agreed commitments were implemented as agreed at the clan gathering.
A series of meetings between the clan elders of both parties to a conflict held at a neutral location. The allotting of reparations, almost always in the form of cows or material compensation from the party responsible for the offence to the party wronged in the conflict. The basic principles and central mechanisms for resolving conflict include: