Preparations for the highly anticipated 3rd Edition of the Twende Zetu Butiama Pilgrimage Safari have entered high gear, with organizers confirming that registration officially opens tomorrow, September 1, 2026, and will close on September 25, 2026 .
Dr. Ronex Tendo Kisembo, CEO of Afrika Mashariki Fest, and his team have completed a comprehensive reconnaissance tour across the region, visiting the ancestral homes of East Africa's liberation icons—including Milton Obote's home in Akokoro, Jomo Kenyatta's Gatundu residence, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga's Bondo homestead, and Mwalimu Julius Nyerere's Butiama resting place .
The 2026 pilgrimage, themed "Espousing the Enduring Legacy and Values of Our Jumuiya Founding Fathers: A Call for Enhanced Efforts Towards a Politically Federated EAC," will traverse Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya over 20 days .
Prospective pilgrims can register as individuals or groups starting September 1. The registration window closes on September 25, giving East Africans and diaspora members ample time to secure their places in this historic journey .
The pilgrimage will officially commence with a flag-off ceremony at Nkrumah Hall, University of Dar es Salaam . Pilgrims will then proceed to the EAC Secretariat in Arusha, onward to Kenyatta University in Nairobi, and Makerere University in Kampala .
Key dates on the pilgrimage calendar include:
· October 7-8: Pilgrims gather at Dr. Obote's ancestral home in Akokoro
· October 9: Uganda's Independence Anniversary celebrations at Kololo
· October 10: Departure for Butiama with a stopover at Serengeti National Park
· October 14: Nyerere Day—solemn tribute to Mwalimu Julius Nyerere at Butiama
· October 15-16: Honoring Mzee Jaramogi Oginga Odinga in Bondo, Siaya County—a poignant moment as it marks the anniversary of the late Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga's passing (October 15, 2025)
· October 17: Visit to Kenya's National Assembly to pay homage to Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, followed by a visit to his Gatundu home
· October 20: The journey culminates with Mashujaa Day (Heroes' Day) celebrations in Eldoret
October holds profound significance in East African history. The pilgrimage coincides with multiple independence anniversaries and the remembrance of founding fathers who shaped the region's destiny .
"This October is a profoundly significant month in our regional history," said Dr. Kisembo. "We must remember, lest we forget. As Mzee wa kazi [President Museveni] would say, this is a moment to re-commit ourselves to the vision of a politically federated East African Community" .
The initiative, a flagship program of Afrika Mashariki Fest, has attracted support from regional leaders and institutions. Kenya's High Commissioner to Uganda, Hon. Ababu Namwamba, expressed commitment to journeying with youth from all eight EAC partner states to pay tribute to the community's founders .
The pilgrimage represents more than a tourism activity—it is described as "a learning experience about servant leadership, sacrifice and Pan-Africanism" that seeks to inspire young Africans through the values and vision of the region's founding leaders .
Registration opens tomorrow, September 1, and closes September 25. For more information on registration and participation, contact the Afrika Mashariki Fest organizing team.
