By Benjamin Epeduno & Richard Onapatum.
KATAKWI
As insecurity heightens in Karamoja region, 50 Karamojong with over 1000 heads of cattle have fled to the neighboring Teso districts for refuge.
Geoffrey Katamba, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Katakwi recently in a Ngariam leaders meeting held in Katakwi district Tuesday 23rd-8-2022, at Katakwi Technical School said that Karimojong mostly from Napak district and Abim border line are running away from the Jie and have pitched camp in Ongongoja Sub County in Katakwi district.
“There is high influx of Karamojong in Ongongoja, mostly from Apeitolim coming backwards, the Bokora are being invaded by the Jie,” said the RDC
He added that as government, they will try to find ways to send them back.
The Karamoja region found in North Eastern Uganda is one of the most marginalized parts of the country.
For decades, it has suffered from high levels of conflict between different ethnic groups during cattle raiding and insecurity alongside low levels of development.
The effects of such violence include death, injury, displacement and disruption of economic and social activities.
The Vice Chairman Katakwi district, Joseph Ecuman who also doubles as the LCV councilor for Ongongoja told our reporter that they have written numerous letters to the security agencies but they are delaying the process of harmonizing the situation.
“I don’t have much to say, but as leaders we are trying our best to see that we live in peace, so far they are good Karamojong,” he said.
He adds that the Karimojong have already started building kraals for the over 1000 heads of cattle in Okulonyo as they seek refuge.
The North Eastern region has experienced continuous waves of cattle raids mainly fueled by revenge attacks among the communities of Jie, Bokora Pian, Dodoth and Matheniko.
Christine Tubo Nakwang, the vice chairperson Karamoja Parliamentary Group says attacks are happening despite an ongoing disarmament exercise in the region.
“Divisionism has greatly contributed to the revenge attacks fueled by collaborations among the criminals,” she said.
Background of armed violence in Karamoja
Pastoralist groups in the Karamoja region have been engaged for centuries in cycles of joint livestock raiding, involving inter-communal armed violence.
This tendency has been further aggravated by frequent droughts and floods, which fuel competition for livestock, pastures and access to water.
These conflicts are not new, and the tensions that arise between clans are often prompted by competition over pasture and water, in addition to traditional practices of raiding cattle from rival communities.
The Katakwi district LCV chairman, Geoffrey Omolo in an interview confirmed that last week, the Bokora from areas of Apeitolim with over 700 heads of cattle had crossed to Onogongoja, a border sub county with claims that the Jie are attacking them in Napak.
“I immediately made calls to security after the first team assured us that there was another team of Karimojong coming from behind with over 200 heads of cattle,” said Omolo.
Omolo said that they managed to engage the leadership in Napak, and return the Karimojong citing challenges that could arise with their invasion.
As the conflict intensifies, the Dodoth of Kaabong District, for instance, cite the Jie from the south as their principal adversaries. They also include the Turkana, whose home villages are on the Kenyan side of the border, as another prime threat.
Similarly, while the northern Jie describe the Dodoth as their main enemy, the southern Jie note that their main threat is the Matheniko, whose home villages are in Moroto District.
The pattern of conflict is similar across Karamoja, with the Bokora, Dodoth, Jie, Matheniko, and Pian sub-clans switching quickly between weak alliances and outright war. The situation is made worse by the Pokot and Turkana from Kenya, who enter the region whenever drought afflicts the Kenyan side of the border.
The Teso districts bordering Karamoja, have continuously suffered the challenges of allowing Karimojong incursion.
The LCV Katakwi says they had a meeting on Wednesday, 24th August 2022 between the leadership of Katakwi and Napak district in Mbale district to see that the Karimojongs are not allowed to enter Katakwi District.
“they may look innocent, but the Bokora maybe themselves stealing from the Jie neighbours and may want to hide here to export their conflict to teso,” said Omolo
He adds as Leaders they are not going to allow Karimojong to cross to Katakwi . He appeals to the security to deploy immensely at the Karamoja border line.
“If they are fighting internally let the army be able to deploy within and secure them while they are in their land,” adds Omolo.
The introduction of modern assault rifles has escalated the dangers of traditional cattle raiding to the extent that violence, which might have traditionally been controllable, is now out of control.
