Karimojong, Guns and Freedom

Uganda and Kenya are in the process of disarming karamoja and Turkana pastoralists respectively. Karimojong comprised of several ethnic groups including the Pokot, Kadam, Pian, Tepeth, Matheniko and Bokora. Others are the Jie, Labwor, Nyakwi, Dodoth and Teuso. Different communities among the Turkana have relations with some of the karimojong ethnic groups. The karimojong and Turkana still owns guns for their survival escalating cattle rustling in the region.  Though the disarmament process is on, Karimojong and Turkana who thought it wise to hand over the guns willing to the government, only take back ‘rotten’ guns that are of no use to them and determined to keep their dignity. To them international boundaries are irrelevant so are the laws.

One may ask him or herself how the Karimojong  acquired guns? In the olden days rudimentary spears and arrows were used and these were later replaced with home made guns. Civil wars in Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Uganda these ethnic groups managed to get guns. Up to now guns are still sold in some parts of Sudan that any body else can acquire. During Idi Amin’s fall in 1979, karimojong also looted guns in the Uganda army’s armory in Moroto.

Karamoja is one of the areas where one of the ten national parks in Uganda is found. This is Kidepo Valley National Park, which is one of Uganda’s most spectacular parks.  Kidepo Valley National Park has a wide variety of animal species including Elephant, Burchell’s zebra, Bush big, Rothschild giraffe, Cape buffalo, Warthog, Eland, Duiker Defassa waterbuck, Bohor reedbuck, Jackson’s hartebeest and Oribi. Carnivores include lion, leopard, several small cats, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal and side-striped jackal in the extremely diverse flora. Kidepo Valley National Park is an out standing habitat for over 465 species of birds where ostrich and kori bustard are only found in Uganda. Karimojong culture is also one of the potential unique cultures to be packaged for visitors in the region. The visitors who tour Kidepo Valley National Park remain with a memorable experience of the Uganda’s most diverse park.