APAC, UGANDA – Plans for a major East African pilgrimage to honour the legacies of independence icons Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Dr. Apollo Milton Obote have gained significant momentum following a high-level meeting in Akokoro sub-county, Apac district.
Dr. Ronex Kisembo Tendo, Group CEO of Afrika Mashariki Fest, paid a courtesy visit to Jimmy Akena Obote, the President of the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) party, to discuss the upcoming Twende Butiama Pilgrimage Safari scheduled for October 2026 .
The meeting, held at the home of the late former Ugandan President and Prime Minister Dr. Milton Obote, marks a pivotal step in expanding the annual pilgrimage. While the event traditionally culminates at Nyerere's ancestral home in Butiama, Tanzania, Dr. Kisembo revealed that this year's edition will incorporate a broader regional focus .
"We have been organizing the pilgrimage for Mwalimu Nyerere, but some people rightly pointed out that Nyerere did not work alone," Dr. Kisembo explained. "He worked together with other great leaders like Obote and Jomo Kenyatta to lay the foundation for the East African Community. This pilgrimage is about honouring that collective vision of Pan-Africanism and regional integration" .
In recognition of this shared legacy, the 2026 pilgrimage will begin in Uganda. It will include a significant two-day seminar at Akokoro, the home of Dr. Milton Obote, before the pilgrims proceed to Kenya and then Tanzania. The event is expected to attract over 1,000 pilgrims from across East Africa, with participants arriving in Akokoro on October 6, 2026 .
The expanded itinerary includes a visit to Uganda's Parliament, a tour of Murchison Falls National Park, and participation in Uganda's Independence Day celebrations at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on October 9. The journey will then cross into Kenya, with stops in Nairobi and Gatundu (Kenyatta's home area), before concluding in Butiama with prayers and reflections on Nyerere's legacy .
Jimmy Akena welcomed the initiative, pledging his full support for the program. "Honouring the founding fathers is essential for inspiring the youth and realizing the dream of a united East Africa," Akena said.
Dr. Kisembo described the meeting as a "significant milestone" in the planning process, adding that the expanded pilgrimage serves as a "learning experience about servant leadership, sacrifice, and Pan-Africanism" for the youth who are the vanguard of regional integration .
