DanChurchAid
Uganda
Karamoja seeks to mend relations with Kenya Turkana, Pokot
By David Mafabi, journalist, the Daily Monitor, Uganda
According to the LCV chairman for Moroto Mr. Ken Lochap the leadership has held several meetings with their Kenya counterparts under a new peace umbrella ‘Cross border peace initiative’ spearheaded by Karamoja Agro-pastoral Development.
Under the peace initiative strategies have been laid down to involve local leadership in the struggle for peace with the neighbours the Pokot and Turkana, plans of involving the MPs, the ex-warriors and government to ensure that Kenya and Uganda co-exist peacefully for development .
Karamoja region is made up of Kotido, Abim, Kabong, Nakapripiriti and Moroto districts.
“In bid to co-exist pecaeful with our neighbours in Kenya, we have initiated cross border peace dialogues between Kenya and Uganda ethinic tribes involved in cross border cattle raids, tribal conflicts, particulary the Turkana, Pokot and all tribes in Karamoja because we feel peace is a preliquisite to development,” said Lochap.
While speaking to Daily Monitor 12 July at his office, Mr. Michael Kuskus, the brain behind the new programme under Karamoja Agro-pastoral Development [KADP] said RDCs, LCV chairpersons, Education officers, selected local leaders, reformed warriors [Uganda] and District Commissioners, District education officers, MPs, reformed warriors [Kenya] have been drawn in the programme.
Kuskus revealed that the role of KADP in the programme as an initiator is to coordinate cativities on peace, mobilization of communities and ethinic groups involved in conflicts across the border and supporte communities in terms of transport both in Uganda and Kenya.
He revealed that at the meetings there are confessions by raiders, dialogue, education and sensitization and resolutions to end the cattle raids across amongst the local ethnic groups and across the borders.
He said that the tribes across the borders have also started peace races involving the Karimajong and Pokot and Turkana intended to remove the mentality of war amongst the tribes.
The Education Officer for Moroto, Mr Paul Abul revealed that the peace initiative is already bearing fruit as many young boys formerly engaged in cattle raids have denounced the act and are involved in trucking stolen animals with the UPDF.
Abul revealed that the three meetings held this year have seen the Pokot of Kenya sign a peace accord with the Tepeth of Uganda and that they have also considered re-opening of their land at Ochorichori abandoned in 1971 due to cattle raids conflicts with the Tepeth for re-settlement.
He revealed that at the peace meetings the leaders also sensitise the people on the importance of education and mobilise them to consider enrolling their children in schools for a better living.
The cross border peace initiative meetings began in 2004 and development partners have now considered supporting the initiatives for peaceful co-existence and development of the pastoral areas.
Abul says that whereas the cattle raids between the ethnic tribes in Karamoja have seen over 10,000 people killed in Karamoja and over 4000 in Kenya, the cross border peace meetings have lessened raids and created a relatively peaceful atmosphere for Karamoja.
DanChurchaid and the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission are funding a drought preparedness program in the districts of Moroto and Nakapiripirit, which is helping the Karimojongs in developing their traditional way of living as agro-pastoralists. DanChurchAid has invited two journalists from the leading Ugandan newspapers, The Daily Monitor and The New Vision, to see the work of the local partner KADP.
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