Armed violence has choked local communities in Karamoja, leaving
scores of individuals and households with low money generating opportunities or
livelihoods in the sub region.
A survey conducted amongst villages indicates that the violence is
reportedly perpetrated against men, where firearms, machetes or clubs are used
in the theft of food, personal house property and targeting livestock.
The intra-community violence remains extraordinary, heightening
insecurity both at individual and village levels, an issue that has undermined
the traditional social structure.
Priska Losike, a resident of Lolaine village, Nakapelimen ward in
Nadunget town council says families are under attack, as goons come around to
look for men and also rob house belongings and foodstuffs.
Losike says once the door has been forcefully opened, they subject
women to tell them the whereabouts of their husbands, as they flash torches in
all corners of the house.
She noted that because of the search for men to kill, those who are
surviving sleep in the bush and in towns.
Nadunget town council Mayor in Moroto district, Max Lokabenyan has
acknowledged the insecurity driven poverty, saying most families are now very
vulnerable after loss of economic opportunities due to the chronic insecurity
in the sub region.
He says the poverty levels are worsening as gunmen disrupt life in
homesteads.
Another Sub County chairperson from Lotisan in Moroto district,
Robert Akiki Adupa says the Karimojong used to survive on blood among other
livestock products but this is not the case today as most families are swimming
in horrible poverty.
Adupa says clan sentiments where people define themselves as a
Bokora, Jie, Matheniko and Pian may take time to have Karamoja speak as one and
he blamed leaders in the community for protecting crime saying when the stolen
animals are brought in the villages no-one speaks against the move.
He urged the Karimojong to embark on dialogues so as to realize
peace saying the army will never make peace.
Karamoja, with a population of 1.2 million remains the least
socially and economically developed in the country amidst huge potential of
mineral wealth.
At least 61 percent of the total population lie in poverty with
women, children and adolescent girls hit harder within villages.