Karamoja Forum
Across the world, traditional indigenous societies are at risk of losing their livlihoods, threatened by drought, environmental degradation, overpopulation, armed conflicts, and the hard realities of life on earth in the twenty-first century. Nowhere are those troubling realties more stark than in Karamoja.
Over the vast savannah and plains of northeast Uganda, the proud Karimojong have lived and roamed with their herds of cattle for centuries. Today, however, Uganda’s warrior nomads stand at a crossroads. Cattle raiding gone amok and environmental pressures have led to humanitarian crisis. Efforts involving Ugandan government initiatives, NGOs, and the people of Karamoja themselves have intensified. They include education, disarmament, peace processes, resource management, controlled grazing, and grassroots community organisation just to name some of the necessary efforts.
Dialogues about such issues are critical to Karamoja’s future whether they occur at gatherings of Karimojong elders outside of Manaty or on an internet forum between professional and stakeholders in the region. So you are welcomed to express your thoughts here.
Karamoja Forum Issue:
What do you think of the views expressed in the first Karamoja! exclusive interviews?
Thanks for the innovation.This has been a long awaited intervention for the poor neglected pastoralists of East Africa. I wish you everlasting endevor in tackling Karamoja’s problems. Lorna, Kapchorwa, Uganda
This is a good beginning to a long oral-culture that keeps the world ignorant of what is happening in Karamoja/Uganda/Africa.
On the views, I think there is need for a lot of information purification despite the fact that facts on Karamoja are widely expressed. I think there is need for more exactitude.Lo! it is a good point of departure. Thanks!
Jerremy and authors of Karamoja the land of worrior normads have done quite a tremendous job in recent times in exposing the beauty and literature of karamoja.My University Brandeis is proud of some copies we got and has formed abasis for reference of some literature for students particularly interested in pastoral studies as I am already one of the beneficiaries.Bravo to you all and lets return back to Karamoja one time.
jerremy and authors of karamoja the land of worrior nomards.We are proud of the exposureand propagation of karamojong culture.We hope to return to land of the rising sun.Let me bigger up ma buddy Emoyo alex ekondere muya and long live LOKONA IN NAMALU.
I wish I knew why the gapped teeth?? I have her photo in my special book but why the teeth, I can’t find out.
You have created a wonderful website with much information and photos, I am learning a great deal from it.
Thank you
I am going to Siroti in Jan. 2009, and I want to order the book Karamoja! Uganda’s Land of Warrior Nomads. Where can I get it? I couldn’t find it on Amazon.com.
I am going to work in one of the IDP camps. What languages will I find spoken there? Marion
The info on Karamoja is great. Can I use quotes from the interview with Phillips Lomma for a newspaper(Young Talk) for school pupils coming out this May. He is a role model and worth talking about. Thanks and keep it up.
Bravo for startig this important forum. Westerners know nothing of the plight of these proud people. The sensitive debate between preserving traditional culture and developing primary schools, medical care and food security is one that needs more exposure in development circles. Giving voice to all stakeholders is key.
Is there a way we contributors to this forum can connect with each other? I am helping a Karamojan/Canadian friend with an initiative in Nwakwai that would value input.
Something BIG is happening in Karamoja. Last September I was a member of a group of 5 men who went near Moroto to put on a Peace Conference at a local church. The results have been huge. 7000 people moved to the base of Mt. Napak. There are now 39 villages made up of two tribes- the Bokora and Pian.
This July 08 I will be a member of a medical team from two churches in the States going in to minister to these two tribes. We will be dedicating two bore holes and providing medical treatment and hygene for these new villages.
To my knowledge this is the first peace village that has had any sucess. One of the most important decsions these people made was that cattle would not be allowed into the area for several years. The seed has been planted and we are hoping to expand the peace gatherings to other neighboring tribes.
Many have tried, but it has been a faith based orginization that is most effective at bringing peace to this land of beautiful people.
Marion Toepke McLean
Thanks for your interest in the copy of the book. I wish it was possible to know the country you are then you would be advised on how to get a copy. But when in Uganda in 2009 please just go to Aristoc Booklex in Kampala, Uganda’s capital. For more information on the people of Soroti and IDPs please write to; pastoralmedia@yahoo.com
Tell them that Beetle Tours is geting set to take those interested in seeing the tresures of the land of the warrior nomads through memorable safaris. From scenic landscapes to the wildlife reserves and Kidepo Np, fosil sites, Ngero rock paintings, cultural interests, forsil sites and the still to be in place Karamoja Museum.
Our brochure is in the final stages of preparation.
I heard a ‘rumour’ that a Karamoja forum meeting is being arranged to take place in October in Germany, can someone shade more light?
Daniel, there is a forum in October in Germany. You can get more information about it on http://www.karamoja.eu. This is an extremely important meeting for all people interested in Karamoja affairs and we urge everyone from the private sector and the government to attend. David Pluth
At least Karamoja is going to be heard now and yet it has been in existence for time immemorial. The karamoja forum should be broadened to include the rest of the ATEKER cluster of Sudan(the Didinga,the jie of Sudan,etc) and those of Ethiopia together with the Turkana of Kenya. This is how the Karamoja forum will be succesful otherwise thanks for the initiative so far
I hope the karamoja forum participants are representative enough for the entire karamoja because unlike other tribes karamoja is a multi ethnic community with diverse cultural and socio-economic settings whereby within karamoja there are over eleven different sub tribesand that is manifested by the differences in their languages,cultures,etc. my worry is that those who are not represented in the forum may have a bias on the views arrived at due to their being excluded from participation. let’s hope this does not arise.
Heh. Nice. I am proud of my good continuity I have a joke for you =) What do you get when you cross a rabbit and a spider? A HAREnet!
Hi all!
As newly registered user i only want to say hi to everyone else who uses this board B-)
What is bumburbia?
Hi, I have recently visited karamoja. my journey begun on the streets of Kampala where karamojong babies are being used to beg. apparently there is a racket. I am determined to eliminate the karamojong babies off the streets of Kampala. I will need all of the support from this forum
Hi! Am Ugandan and never been to Karamoja – its a shame! I was just introduced to Karamoja as I prepared a project proposal on trade in gum arabic to improve livelihoods and also use trade as an incentive to invest in and promote sustainable land management. Planning to visit the region before the end of May, and your site just like that of the OPM have been valuable insights to what is happening in the region.
Your efforts to enlighten Ugandans is commended and I will check out for the book at Aristoc as suggested, and will also regularly visit the site for new developments.
Best regards
Ejoka Lokiru! Are you still alive?! I think of you often. Let me know.
We are beginning work in Karamoja,. We are The Master’s Vineyard ministry and our goal is to give the current Karamojong generation tools that will sustain them in the future. Water is scarce and is needed to sustain the people and thier animals. This year there is less rain and the reality of starvation in sight.
Support our efforts by visting our website at http://www.mvministry.org.
Hi. I am a Karimojong student in Makerere University and have found the initiative a very helpful one. I googled this as I was editing the KAramoja Students’ website and was looking for some items on Karamoja in the media.
for us as Karimojongs, this will go a long way towards informing the world about us and probably affecting policy makers nationally and globally. The interview is great and indeed, Karamoja needs a breed that has been termed as ‘Modern warriors.’
Bravo. keep up. visit our site.
Hi Peter,
I recently came back from a work shop in Israel and the main theme was how we in the diaspora can help/support our pple in Uganda. My charity’s main objective is to stop the karamojong babies begging on the streets of Kampala. I need to get in touch with all Karamojong pple in Europe, America or whereever they are so we can work together to support our pple. I live in the UK. Please get in touch on mmwagale@hotmail.com.
I will be in Kampla from the 17th December and would like to meet with the likes of Mr Longoli. Please get in touch
Sure i am one who has been disturbed by our sisters and brothers being used in the streets for begging, i will support whatever cause, even if it means dedicating voluntarily my time, i am ready to be part of the organised modern warriors to handle this situation, sometime i feel bad when people talk about Karimojongs (us) in the streets, in classes it is being talked everywhere even in Taxis, of course i cant get a shamed anyway, you can be in the car with some people you work with and our small childlren start iriating them, you feel something that cant go away easily, it is true our local leaders on the ground can’t handle this problem alone, we need to put up our efforts to handle this situation, madam Maureen you are wel comed with your initiative. my email is paul.naluma@ugandawildife.org am a karimojong resident and working in Kampala. Yes we can make it!
The karamojong are the usual examples of the world poorest family. But, the Karamojong will not accept that. He views and visualizes cattle as wealth forever, and nothing will happen to them. They don’t think of underdevelopment of the people, land, and area of Uganda. Not even thinking of education for their children. Not even thinking the future, development, and competition of the region among the country’s regions. I feel bad and disrespected as a Ugandan wherever I go or meet a fellow Ugandan. what is the future of karamoja and its people in Uganda? what about insecurity? can we make our transportation in karamoja easier? can the movement of citizen, teachers, missionaries, volunteers, logistics and others easy?
Recommendations: advice the karamojong to start initiating workshops and seminars among themselves; meet every karamojong in ever distrcts; discuss issues of insecurity, education, and cattle raiding among themselves. may by bring in expert to facilitate the seminars. They know themselves from north to south, and west to east; not taking each other as an enemy.
Just a few…………..
hello readers of the forum, I am sure you will also find http://www.karamojadf.wordpress.com interesting.
A young child can not walk alone without the help of a big person.I Appreciate the endevours of the well wishers of karamoja in seeing to it that karamoja region also comes to the face of Uganda’s development process.whenever I get an article about karamoja what comes to my mind is the question of whom to help karamoja upright.Being a karamojong student and knowing that its one of my responsibility I thank all your ideas about karamoja but my ‘automatic’ question should also be your question and i think that is the only way we can help karamoja .
It is indeed a pleasure to read, but, comments posted by a learned multitude of ‘Ngitunga’. It appears a great invention and further needs intervention for excellence. with this little we have done, I feel we are starting to create a new face of karamoja. I then argue you to write not only on culture and greetings and appreciation but to cross on more issues of karamoja and the globe. Be us! keep ‘tikin’!
Please note mt thesis on the Karamojong is available for free online: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?did=1&uin=uk.bl.ethos.304644
See also my 2005 monograph: The Vitality of Karamojong Religion: Dying tradition or living faith? Aldershot: Ashgate http://www.ashgate.com/default.aspx?page=637&calcTitle=1&title_id=4401&edition_id=4620 Launched at the ‘Militarization, Violence, and livelihoods’ Workshop, St Antony’s College, University of Oxford 3.5.06
Iam a karimojong, I have worked in karamoja and have had and interest in studying the karimojong in my field of study and I have not only produced a thesis but also a novel.
The thesis is based on Karimojong oral literature. This reveals a lot about the philosophy of the karimojong and their attempts to survive in the extreme climate(climatic, socio-political) that have been.
The novel “Iteo Alive” is all about karamoja before and now in uganda. Read it and you will have a picture of karamoja in twenty four hours.
Howeve there need to document many things about karamoja for people to understand them
Iam a karimojong, I have worked in karamoja and I have had an interest in studying the karimojong in my field of study and I have not only produced a thesis but also a novel.
The thesis is based on Karimojong oral literature. This reveals a lot about the philosophy of the karimojong and their attempts to survive in the extreme climate(climatic, socio-political) that have been.
The novel “Iteo Alive” is all about karamoja before and now in uganda. Read it and you will have a picture of karamoja in twenty four hours.
Howeve there is need to document many things about karamoja for people to understand them
Bravo and thumps up to the Karamoja Forum and to the Novel “Iteo Alive” as authored by Aloysius Aloka – i hope to find it one time . karamoja challenges have solutions in karamoja with the karimojong and by the karimojong. the people MUST appreciate their origin, reflect on their culture and traditions in order to understand themselves and establish what went wrong.
we as a people of Karamoja should LOVE our culture and appriciate that GOD made us like all others and there is nothing strange about being Karamojong. this is the first step to real change.
GOD BLESS U ALL
Bravo Karamoja. With climate change taking its toll on the universe, where does this take or leave karamoja? Resettlements are under way as a response to food insecurity, but what is the future of these resettlement camps as more people seek for more land to produce food. Hey! You friends of Karamoja, think about sustainable water sources like man made lakes that will support livelihoods in a more sustanable way. Cheers.
Dear Friends, Karamoja has had its longtime share of bad publicity. Twenty five years of stability inn Uganda is there nothing good to talk about? There is a very positive trend interms of response to Education, health care and peace building intiatives. We however need to deal with the high school drop out rates, unemployment, poor raod infrastructure, lack of power(electricity) to triger employment and economic prodcutivity. While health facilities are plenty, they exist in a desert of drugs and ill trained nursing assistants. What health servicesn can we be proud about without trained medical personnel who are Karamojaong inorder to ensure sustaiability? Karamoja lets wake up now and seize the opportunity while it is available for us.
If all Karamojongs could think like a Karamojong then Karamoja would have been a new Karamoja.Ngithunga dadang knows that Karamoja has been neglected in the affairs of Uganda.
Now,why should hold the 2011 elections ngithunga?
KARAMOJA NOT VOTING 2011
thanks, new brown longok
Hi! Am Lokure David, a student of Economics in Kyambogo Unversity. I just bumped into this site and wow! I think its’s cool. Am anxious to be a part of any effort geared at the development of Karamoja. I think our development as Karamojongs is in our own hands, no one we can do it for us. Our government has lied and continues to lie to us about alot of things; I think it’s about time we stood up to those lies. The question is do we still want another rap? (lie?). I am sure there are those who think am wrong when I say we have had enough of NRM lies. Yeah we all have our opinions, but the fact remains that we should do something about our development. It doesn’t have to be the change of government or anything radical, but it would be a good idea if we stopped the “yes” attitude to our government. We need to make these people account for their over two decades’ lies. Every time of campaigns, they tell us about tarmac and electricity and as usual we get excited and say “kibooye!” no one cares that nothing is done after the man has got his vote. We simply sit back and hope for the best from God. Now I hear they are talking of tarmacking the Nakapiripirit-Moroto road, the question is of what relevance is that road to our development? Does it connect us to any viable Towns? Isn’t it obviuos this is a white lie? Let’s think and think big! We need tarmac on such roads as Nakapiripirit-Sironko road and Moroto-Soroti road plus others roads that connect us to other better places. Please let’s wake up and give this people a shake of the decade. We also need industries in Karamoja, don’t we? Has someone ever wondered where our marble stones go? That cement, is Tororo cement? or Moroto cement? Please let’s think! These people don’t care about us, all they do is blame us for our problems! Please, let’s get up to them! It’s about time! I pray all you share my view. I am calling upon our leaders to drop that complacent attitude and rise up without fear against all the lies. Please, I implore! Here we do! And bravo to all those who will agree with me. Will be back!
Dear David,
I agree with all that you are saying. However we need to stop “saying” and act. I live in the UK but am fighting for the Karamojong babies begging on the streets of Uganda.
Check out my website on http://www.kaana.org
Hello Karamojongs! doesn’t it strike you as odd that campaign rallies should always be shot at in Karamoja? In 2006 it was allaged that Karamojong warriors shot at President Museveni’s campaighn convoy. Now in 2010, Nobert Mao’s rallies has benn shot by UPDF soldiors. The question is why Karamoja? Such attrocity has never been heard of in any other part of the country (except Kampala during riots). The people orchestrating such a barbaric act are out to frame the Karamojong for their dirty deeds. These people are trying to take advantage of our hostile situation to tarnish our image. We are very hospitable people unless provoked, therefore we cannot allow to be anyone’s scapegoats. Let us denounce this barbaric act welcome anyone who comes seeking our vote without discriminating. There are already alot of misconceptions about Karamoja that we are fighting hard to correct, so let us prevent thse people from making it hard for us to restore our image. Politics of fear and intimidation shall never be practised in Karamoja! Let’s make sure of that!
Yes, All you there the global village who can listen, for those who have not been to Uganda, Kampala, for those who cherish the life of children, the life they went through as they grew up, let us tell the village the suffering Karimojong children are going through in the steets of Kampala and other towns in Uganda. Please let us fight to stop it.
Hi, i found this place on google and i like it so far
Hi Maureen! Thanks for the efforts towards helping the suffering Karimojong along the streets of Kampala town. It is a positive move as a way of helping them. However, I see i feel that action should be accompanied by sending the school going age children to school. I wish there could be a way of sending them and keeoing them in schools such that they don’t keep coming back to the streets. witout finding ways of keeping these people in the home areas by way of giving them a project to support and keep them busy, they would always find ways of coming back to the streets to wait for Kaana hand-outs. The government has tried but I think something is missing. They are rounded up and brought in buses only to return a few days after.
Thanx.
Dear Munye, This term, we have managed to send 11 kids to school. the six girls have started at Kangole PS and the 5 boys at Irriri PS. We are working with the women in Kisenyi and have set up small business for them. Hope fuly we will start work with the community in Napak district by the end of the year.
Would you kindly sponsor a child? Or do you know of somebody who can? Like you say there are so many children who want to go to school and as you know the education is NOT free in Uganda. The kids need books, uniforms, pencils etc etc
Maureen
it is sweet to learn this,karamoja is a community which is made up of individuals, and therefore its development has got to do with individuals first, as i thank those who are empowering those weak individuals i urge that those with obligations such as those of leadership should play their role and obligation in society and not use the situation to their personal benefit, BRAVO KARAMOJA!!!! i hope we shall walk, run, jump and fly.
And Now, we have a Karamoja debate online. If you have a FaceBook account, you can now debate online at Karamoja Development Forum FaceBook page. We have topical issues to debate every week and next week’s debate will be on Wednesday. Go to the link below and register for the debate after registering for free membership at the group.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=191597727559560 You can search for the group at facebook. Thank you and see you there.
Karamoja the next destination1
Please all you there the World over Karamoja is now quite peacefull, several areas of interest to visit and how to go about it.
We have the highest diversity of birds of prey and carnivores many of which are endemic to Karamoja in Uganda e.g. the cheetah, the bat-eared fox, the striped hyena the hunting dog, the caracal, lion, leopard……..several other small ones, the karamoja apalis, the lamergeyer vulture……… the Kidepo national park, extremely scenic landscape, the only park in Uganda where you can see both the zebra and girraffe together, the easiest park to see the lions and other wildlife in a very short time. best season to see wildlife is December to April.
Pian Upe WR, Bokora-Matheniko WR have their own endemic species, you can even see wildlfe outsite peotected areas.
Cultural interests, you can arrange trips to visit people dressed in traditional costumes as part of their daily attire. If you wish you can join hersmen grazing cows and take part in traditional games that they play while grazing like target javeling, have fun in a natural pristine environment.
A number of hotels, guest houses and camping can also be arranged in different parts of Karamoja. a car can be arranged for hire or come by pubic bus fro kampala to Moroto/Kotido.
More inquiries welcome.
Indeed to plan a visit to, the land where one of
please tell me are there any buffaloleft in the karamojo area as have been offered a sfari there to hunt buffalo and was just enquiring as to how much game is still there..
please help thanks Ian
The Disarmamnent has given some stability in Karamoja and I give credit to the Ruling Government(NRM) and all its arms for fostering peace and stability. The challenge now remains for the Leaders, the Community and Local Governments of Regionviz: Districts of Abim, Kaabong, Amudat, Kotido, Napak, Nakapiripirit and Moroto to unite and develop the region. We have now 17 MPS.
Democracy is key to stability and Development.
God help all Ugandansand the Karimojong.