Description

January saw a deterioration of the security situation in different parts of the country particularly in the Karamoja sub region in North Eastern Uganda where cattle rustling is on the increase as reported by the SAFE’s program Karamoja-based conflict monitors. Incidents have been reported particularly from the districts of Kaabong, Kotido and Moroto. It is alleged that the Jie of Kotido, the Dodoth of Kaabong and the Turkana from North West Kenya are stealing livestock from each other. These incidents are threatening the hard earned peace in the region. A number of people have been killed during the raiding and counter raiding incidents. Since the drought situation deteriorated in North-West Kenya in the last couple of months, more than seventy thousand (70,000) Turkana pastoralists have entered Uganda with about one hundred thousand (100,000) livestock in search of pasture and water for their cattle. This has led to increased tension and frequent attacks with community members accusing the Turkana of encroaching on their grazing land and stealing their livestock.
In another dimension, Karimojong pastoralists are moving away from Karamoja to some areas of Acholi, Lango and Teso looking for pasture and some of them are moving together with the Turkana and causing mayhem wherever they move to. This has led to an outcry from the farming communities in the Teso sub region. Because of this, a delegation of leaders from Karamoja and Teso sub regions have moved into the Bokora cattle corridor bordering Amuria district to quell disputes that are getting out of hand. The pastoralists are also accusing the farming community of occupying land traditionally meant for grazing and hunting during the dry season. In return, the farming community is accusing the pastoralists of letting their animals invade their gardens and destroying their crops hence leading to food shortage in the region. It is imperative that all the warring factions co-exist until the drought season is over.