[BUTIAMA, TANZANIA] — Dr. Ronex Tendo Kisembo, Chief Executive Officer of Afrika Mashariki Fest, today visited the ancestral home of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere in Mwitongo village, Butiama District, as part of ongoing preparations for the highly anticipated 3rd Edition of the Twende Zetu Butiama Pilgrimage Safari.
Upon arrival at the historic site, Dr. Kisembo took time for a nature walk around the serene grounds that hold deep significance for the East African Community . The visit underscores the festival's commitment to honouring the legacy of the region's founding fathers and advancing the dream of a politically federated East African Community .
The Butiama Museum, located within the Nyerere family compound, houses personal effects, diaries, and handwritten translations that offer a glimpse into the life of Tanzania's first President . The village of Mwitongo and the wider Butiama District serve as powerful symbols of Nyerere's enduring vision for unity across the region .
The 3rd Edition of the Twende Zetu Butiama Pilgrimage Safari is scheduled to take place from 1st to 20th October 2026, covering Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya . Themed "Espousing the Enduring Legacy and Values of Our Jumuiya Founding Fathers: a Call for Enhanced Efforts Towards a Politically Federated EAC," the pilgrimage will visit key historical sites :
· Akokoro Village, Apac District, Uganda — Ancestral home of Dr. Apollo Milton Obote
· Mwitongo, Butiama District, Tanzania — Ancestral home of Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere
· Ichaweri, Gatundu District, Kenya — Ancestral home of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta
· Bondo, Siaya County, Kenya — Ancestral home of Mzee Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
Dr. Kisembo emphasized the pilgrimage's importance in rekindling the spirit of Pan-Africanism and holding regional leaders accountable to the integration agenda . "All gave some, some gave all. We may not know them all, but we owe them all. Remembering them is noble," he stated .
The pilgrimage follows the success of the Butiama Accord, which was signed in October 2024 by passionate youth leaders who believed the young generation should be the vanguards of promoting our regional integration and African unity.
This accord was later present to all the EAC Heads of State during their 24th ordinary summit in Arusha at the EAC headquarters in December 2024
Registration for pilgrims officially opens on 1st September 2026. Young people from all eight EAC partner states are encouraged to participate in this historic journey to reflect, network, and take stock of the EAC integration process .
The pilgrimage will be flagged off at Nkrumah Hall at the University of Dar es Salaam, with stopovers at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Kenyatta University, and Makerere University .
