By Patriot Corps
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was on Thursday honored as a Luo elder during the 4th Piny Luo Festival in Siaya County, Kenya. The event, which showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Luo community, also saw Kenya’s President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga being crowned as Luo elders. He attended the function on invitation of Raila Odinga.
President Museveni shared his reflections on the festival through his social media platforms, emphasizing the importance of African unity and cultural preservation. “At Got Ramogi in Kenya this afternoon, I had the honor of accepting the honorary title of Luo Elder at the ongoing 4th Edition of the Piny Luo cultural festival,” he wrote. “This makes the 3rd time for me, first having been the Alur and the Acholi. Now I am waiting for a Luo name.”
The event culminated in the official opening of the 20,000 capacity newly constructed Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Stadium by President Museveni.
He also attended a thrilling football match between Kenya’s Gor Mahia and Uganda’s Kitara FC, which ended in a 9-8 penalty shootout victory for Gor Mahia.
At the football game, President Museveni encouraged young people to embrace sports while also focusing on wealth creation. “My message to the young people was for them to enjoy playing football but always remember that the pathway out of poverty is to engage in the four sectors of wealth creation: commercial agriculture, industries, services, and ICT,” he stated in his X handle post.
The Piny Luo Festival, hosted by Raila Odinga, was a celebration of the Luo community’s cultural journey and historical resilience.
President Museveni took this to praised the gathering as a stepping stone in addressing historical injustices caused by colonial borders. “After so many years, you are finally highlighting the unfairness of these borders. What right did those individuals have to put asunder what God had united or to annihilate entire communities in various parts of the world? By good luck, Africans survived,” He tweeted.
President Museveni also called for leveraging the spirit of Undugu (brotherhood) to achieve African unity and address contemporary challenges.
“This time, we understand that relying on spears and animal skins is not enough, as the threats we face are more sophisticated. We should leverage our Undugu to strengthen the historical missions of the freedom fighters: Uhuru, Prosperity, and Strategic Security. The Undugu (Federation) is the correct approach,” he asserted.
The festival, which highlighted traditional practices and shared cultural values, served as a reminder of the Luo community’s historical journey and its role in the broader African story. President Museveni expressed his gratitude to President Ruto and Raila Odinga for inviting him to the event, noting the importance of such gatherings in fostering unity and progress.