Champion of Peace: Remembering Joyce Asekenye’s Ateker Legacy
“She fought the good fight of faith… and finished her race with grace”-Simon Nangiro
The heartbeat of Kumi fell silent on the morning of May 19, 2025, as the news of Joyce Asekenye Alupo’s passing sent shockwaves through clans, communities, churches, and corridors of leadership. Known affectionately as Toto ICU, her journey from a humble girl in Okouba Ward to a revered founder of Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) and Teso Karamoja Women Initiative for Peace(TEKWIP) and community icon reads like a sacred manuscript, etched in faith, compassion, and quiet power.
Born on December 28, 1968, to the late James Abraham Oruka and Mary Magdalene Anino, Joyce was the firstborn of her family—a position she carried with grace, strength, and a deep sense of responsibility. Her roots, firm in the soil of Okouba Ward, North Division of Kumi Municipality, nourished her spirit of resilience and service that would shape generations.
An Educator at Heart, A Leader by Calling
Joyce’s path in education began at Kumi Primary School, blossomed through Jinja Secondary School (1981–1984), and bore fruit when she earned a teaching certificate from St. Mary’s Primary Teachers’ College Bukedea (1990–1991). Her desire to serve humanity later drove her to Kumi University, where she graduated with a Diploma in Social Work and Social Development (2002–2004).
She taught with passion at Kolondo Nursery and Primary School (1992–1993) and later Kumi Girls Primary School (1994–1996), nurturing young minds and planting seeds of hope in every classroom she touched.
Joyce was a tireless champion of peace and women’s empowerment in the Ateker region, particularly among the Iteso and Karimojong communities. As the Coordinator of Teso Karamoja Women’s Initiative for Peace (TEKWIP), she worked tirelessly to promote peaceful coexistence, livelihood improvement, and the enjoyment of economic, social, and cultural rights and freedoms of women of the Ateker people.
Through her work with TEKWIP, Joyce facilitated dialogue meetings, training, and advocacy initiatives that brought together communities, clan leaders, and stakeholders to address land-related issues and disputes. Her dedication to peacebuilding and women’s rights earned her recognition as a respected regional leader.
Matriarch of Peace and Culture
Toto Joyce was more than an educator—she was a cultural compass, a woman whose footsteps echoed across borders. As Chairperson of the Iteso Cultural Union in Kumi District, she spearheaded the Ateker Cluster Initiative, uniting ethnic communities across Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Her dream was peaceful coexistence; her power was dialogue.
In every council hall and community gathering, she was a voice of reason. A peacemaker. A torchbearer of indigenous wisdom wrapped in modern diplomacy.
Servant of the People, Defender of the Marginalized
Whether working in the Office of the RDC in Moroto and Katakwi or championing initiatives under organizations like ICU, FIDA Uganda, GIZ, UN Women, Action Aid, LANDNET, UCCA, and TECOB, she stood as a defender of women, girls, and the voiceless. She was a frontline advocate for justice, a bridge for broken families, and a safe harbor for reformed warriors.
Her service knew no boundaries. Her energy, tireless. Her influence, monumental.
Joyce’s contributions extended beyond TEKWIP. She was the Chairperson of an interest group working on conflicts around borders within Teso and with other districts, supported by GIZ-Civil Peace Service. She was also a member of several interest groups, including Teso Conflicts around dual land management systems (TeCODLAM) and Ateker Women Land Rights Partners (AWOLARIP). Recently, she was appointed as a board member of LANDnet.
A Family Woman, A Mother to Many
Married to Sam Mafabi of Sonoli Village, Budadiri, Mbale in 1995, Joyce was a mother of one biological daughter—and a guardian to many. Her home was a refuge. Her hands, healing. Her heart, large enough to embrace children she didn’t birth but raised and educated as her own.
She believed in love without bloodlines. In family, beyond names.
A Legacy That Lives Beyond Death
Toto ICU’s passing at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital – Masaba Wing may have stilled her voice, but her impact speaks louder than ever. From empowering rural women to healing wounded youth, from cultural integration to educational reform, her footprints mark every step of Kumi and the greater Teso sub-region.
Her legacy is stitched into the fabric of those she uplifted and the lives she transformed. A woman of valor. A mother of a movement. A daughter of Teso, Karamoja and Ateker people.
The Chairperson Board of Directors, Riamiriam Civil Network-Karamoja, Simon Nangiro paid glowing tribute to Asekenye.
“Her legacy will live on through the countless lives she touched and the impact she made in promoting peace, women’s rights, and community development in Teso, Karamoja, and across the border. We celebrate her dedication, passion, and commitment to creating a better future for the Ateker people of Teso and Karamoja”, Nangiro said.
The late Asekenye Joce Alupo will be laid to rest on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Okouba Ward, North Division, Kumi Municipality.
May her soul rest in peace, and may her memory inspire us to continue her noble work.
