KOTIDO – Kotido District in Karamoja region is in panic because of the series of attacks by armed Turkana pastoralists on the Karimojong pastoralists forcing several to flee their homes.
The Turkana are Kenya’s second largest pastoral group who keep crossing into Uganda in search of water and pasture.
Karamoja sub region hosts about 70,000 Turkana pastoralists who entered the country with more than 100,000 livestock following the persistent drought in northeast Kenya.
The Turkana graze in the areas of Kobebe in Moroto, Loyoro, Kamion and Kalapata in Kaabong District.
The Karimojong pastoralists occupy Naroo East of Kotido District, the area they fled on October 27.
Mr. Ambrose Tukei, the LCV Chairperson of Kotido in a telephone interview on Monday, October 28 told PML Daily that the continuous attacks by the Turkana pastoralists on the Karimojong poses a security threat.
He said several animals have been stolen by the Turkana and people killed, causing a drop in household income for the pastoralists.
“For the last two weeks the Turkana have been attacking the people of Kotido and stealing their livestock,” he said.
Peter Lokol, one of the pastoralists said the Turkana took away all 40 heads of cattle in his kraal.
“I don’t know why [President] Museveni took away our guns leaving us in this miserable life, if he knew he would not be in position to protect us he should have left our guns and we defend our property,” he said.
In 2001 government launched a disarmament exercise in Karamoja and collected a total of 50,000 guns from the Karimojong.
Mr. Peter Logiro the Resident District Commissioner confirmed that the Turkana have intensified attacks.
Mr. Samson Lokeris the Member of Parliament for Dodoth East County in Kaabong District said the attacks render the recently signed memorandum of understanding by Uganda and Kenya heads of state in Moroto.
In 2001 government launched a disarmament exercise in Karamoja and collected a total of 50,000 guns from the Karimojong.
Mr. Ambrose Tukei the LCV Chairperson for Kotido said the attacks would trigger rearmament among the Karimojong.
He called upon the army to double their efforts to contain the situation before it gets out of hand.
Mr. Peter Logiro the Resident District Commissioner, Kotido confirmed that the Turkana attacks have intensified.
“From October 25 to date the Turkana pastoralists have sustained attacks on the Karimojong pastoralists in Kotido and they have raided many livestock and [even] killed people,” he said.
Mr. Logiro who chairs the District Security Committee said the pastoralists have moved and camped at the UPDF 407 brigade in Nakapelimoru Sub County in Kotido District where there is no grass.
Major Telesphor Turyamumanya the UPDF 3rd division spokesperson confirmed the attacks by the Turkana on the Karimojong.
“It’s unfortunate that the Turkana pastoralists are abusing the hospitality that Uganda has given them to graze their livestock in Uganda but as army we are on the ground to address that,” he said.
Mr. Samson Lokeris the Member of Parliament for Dodoth East County said the sustained attacks on the Karimojong by the Turkana render the recently signed memorandum of understanding by the two heads of state in Moroto meaningless.
On the September 12, Presidents Museveni and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding on the joint cross border development between the Karimojong, Turkana and the West Kenya Pokot.
“The signing of that MOU seems to have created room for Turkana pastoralists to intensify the attacks on the Karimojong who are not armed. The situation needs the intervention of President Museveni as Commander in Chief,” said Mr. Lokeris, also chairman of Karamoja Parliamentary Group.
