Today, Wednesday, 16th February 2022, as the aipuduno ceremonies of Papa Emorimor Osuban continue, on my mind is Her Royal Highness Toto Akaliait Agnes Agwang Osuban. Born on 22nd August 1945, to the late Ejakait Konstantine Aisu and Ajakait Arupina Acom, Toto Akaliait Agwang is of well-to-do ancestry. Her late father, Ejakait Aisu, was a primary school teacher.

Toto Akaliait followed in her father’s footsteps and she too is a trained and qualified teacher, a position in which she served our Country from 1965 to 1976, when she switched to banking, where she served till retirement.

On my mind, as well, are the princesses and the princes Papa Emorimor, now rested, has left behind. How are they coping with their loss? Like the Iteso of the past, may they magnify their grief into wild despair, in order that they may get closure.  Now, after all, is the time to mourn.

Yes, my emotions are raw, partly for selfish reasons, as the death of Papa Emorimor Osuban has awakened my grief for my late Papa, Ejakait Engineer George William Owaraga, Chief of Ikaribwok Isekelio Clan of the Iteso, and King George of Entebbe.

Anyway, this morning, at 6:00 a.m., the remains of Papa Emorimor Osuban departed for Tororo, where, starting at 11:00 a.m., a requiem mass was held and an opportunity was given to his subjects, Iteso of Tororo and of Kenya, to pay their last respects. Thereafter, the cortege departed for Soroti at 2:00 p.m., where, starting at 6:00 p.m. a vigil is being held at Madera Catholic Parish; the place where Papa Emorimor was baptized into Catholicism.

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Featured photo: Daughters of the late Emorimor Augustine Osuban; Christine Apio Osuban (left) and Catherine Osuban (right) support their mother and Her Royal Highness Toto Akaliait Agnes Agwang after the requiem mass at Kololo. (Photo by Maria Wamala published in The New Vision)