History
The conflict between the Iteso and Karimojong dates back many decades and is, unlike other regions of Uganda, not political but cultural in nature. Today, Karamoja consists of the five districts of Kotido, Kaabong, Moroto, Abim and Nakapiripirit; Teso region comprises of six districts namely Kaberamaido, Katakwi, Amuria, Kumi, Bukedea and Soroti. For hundreds of years, the two communities co-existed well enough as neighbours with minor conflicts of cattle rustling on both sides. The balance of power was fairly even and both sides understood and accepted the culturally symbolic cattle rustling.
Although still cattle lovers, the Iteso, have long ceased to embrace the culture of cattle raiding to mark the transition of a boy to manhood. For many Karimojong, however, this tradition is still very much cherished. Ownership of large herds of cattle in Karamoja goes hand-in-hand with pride and social status for the largely nomadic people of the sub region. As water supply in Karamoja is inadequate to sustain the people’s way of life, some Karimojong are naturally obliged to move with their cattle to Teso to look for water. At first, they arrive and live peacefully for the duration of the long dry season. In the past it happened that when the Karimojong were moving back at the beginning of the rain season they stole cattle from the Iteso to go with.
Up to 1979, the Iteso took the raids as a bearable nuisance against which they would defend themselves. This position took a tragic turn for the worse when the Karimojong acquired large quantities of guns left abandoned in military barracks during the war that brought down the Idi Amin regime. The well-armed Karimojong warriors have attacked their neighbors at various times since then, with disastrous consequences for the entire region.
Since 2002 there has been an increase in the number of the IDP camps along the border between Teso and Karamoja and cattle thefts are continuous by small groups of armed warriors.
The Effects on the Region
The social and economic impact of the cattle rustling by the Karimojong warriors has been disastrous for the region. Since 2001, about 100,000 Iteso have been living in Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) camps strewn along the common border. The camps are typically congested and unhygienic, resulting in high morbidity and mortality rates and the break down of family patterns and values.
Most schools along the border have closed thus denying future generations the chance to work themselves out of the vicious circle of poverty and ignorance.
Although most severe along the border the effect of the atrocities, is felt all over the North Eastern region. The Iteso have largely abandoned cattle keeping which has adversely affected their wealth as well as the established traditional family patterns. Being unable or unwilling to adapt to their changed circumstances, Iteso men resorted to excessive drinking, idling and subsequently escalating domestic and community violence. As cows are still the principal form of dowry among the Iteso, young men have been at a loss as to how to acquire the number of animals demanded by their prospective in-laws.
The conflict situation has not only affected the Iteso but also the Karimojong since inter ethnic and domestic violence within the Karimojong has also escalated with tragic consequences.
Government initiated attempts in 2001 to disarm the Karimojong warriors but the efforts stalled with serious consequences when the exercise was mishandled and the promised protection of the Iteso failed to materialize. Gun trafficking escalated with assorted weapons flowing into the region from Kenya and conflict-ridden Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan.
One long term solution to the conflict situation could be the complete disarmament of the Karimojong warriors, the closure of their sources of ammunition and development of the infrastructure including water resources to enable the nomadic people better living conditions within Karamoja.
In the short-and-medium term, however, peace building and reconciliation efforts and development of peace constituencies are imperative.
