MUSOMA, TANZANIA – Preparations for the highly anticipated 3rd Edition of the Twende Zetu Butiama Pilgrimage Safari have received a major boost, following high-level consultations between the Afrika Mashariki Fest leadership and the Mara Regional Administration.
Earlier today, the CEO of Afrika Mashariki Fest, Dr. Ronex Tendo Kisembo, accompanied by Comrade Godfrey Madaraka Nyerere (Son of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere),were officially received by the Mara Regional Commissioner, Mheshimiwa Col. Evans Mtambi, at his office in Musoma. The courtesy call served as a critical platform to finalize logistical and administrative frameworks for the pilgrimage, which is scheduled to run from 1st to 20th October 2026, covering the East African territories of Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya.
During the meeting, Dr. Kisembo briefed the Regional Commissioner on the comprehensive preparations underway, emphasizing the scale of the cross-border event. He extended gratitude to Col. Mtambi and his administration for their unwavering readiness to partner with the festival organizers, ensuring a safe, seamless, and spiritually enriching experience for pilgrims during their stay at Mwitongo—the ancestral home and final resting grounds of the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.
"We thank His Excellency the Regional Commissioner and his entire team for their warm reception and commitment to this partnership. Their support is invaluable as we prepare to host pilgrims at this sacred site," said Dr. Kisembo.
This year's pilgrimage carries a profound theme: "Espousing the Enduring Legacy and Values of Our East Africa Founding Fathers: a Call for Enhanced Efforts Towards a Politically Federated EAC." The theme underscores a continental call to action, urging East Africans to reflect on the visionary ideals of the region's founding fathers while reigniting conversations around deeper political integration and unity within the East African Community (EAC).
Echoing the spirit of the theme, Dr. Kisembo invoked the timeless words of Mwalimu Nyerere: "Nguvu ya wanyonge ni kuungana." (The power of the weak and disenfranchised lies in unity.) He noted that remembering the sacrifices of the region's forebearers is not merely an act of historical preservation but a noble and necessary call to accelerate the journey toward a politically federated East Africa.
"Yes, our Founding Fathers—some gave all, and all gave some. We may not know them all, but we owe them all. So, remembering them is noble," Dr. Kisembo remarked, rallying citizens to participate in the event as a show of collective gratitude.
In a significant announcement, the organizers confirmed that Group and Individual Registration for the pilgrimage will officially commence on 1st September 2026. Further details regarding registration procedures, travel itineraries, and accommodation will be released shortly.
With the Mara Regional Government fully on board and the organizing team firing on all cylinders, the 3rd Twende Zetu Butiama Pilgrimage Safari promises to be a historic celebration of East African identity, heritage, and the unyielding quest for unity.
