September 5, 2023 – The Karamoja region of Uganda had for years been susceptible to outbreaks of violence, conflict and general insecurity. Just a couple of decades ago, the region was on the brink of civil war: frail government oversight and services, insufficient economic opportunities, lack of perspectives for young people, combined with increasing tensions between the different ethnic communities brought the region to the boiling point (see this Oxfam study on the origins of the conflict). The remoteness of the central government, the absence of political leadership at the local level and the collapse of traditional customs led to increasing conflict between groups whose livelihoods depended on cattle farming and those whose livelihoods did not.
As a symptom of deeply seated cultural, geographic and economic factors, these underlying issues have never been truly resolved. Conflicts over land use, mostly between pastoralists and cattle farmers, have continued to compound ethnic enmities and have resulted in recurring, sporadic spikes in violence, usually sparked by localized cattle raids. These will often lead to loss of life and the destruction of property, feeding into seemingly unending cycles of poverty. Widespread youth unemployment, economic fragility and marginalization only aggravates the overall situation, making Karamoja one of Uganda’s most volatile regions.
With a view to addressing the root causes of the long-term challenges experienced by the populations of Karamoja, WPDI has been running programs in the Sub-region since 2020, trying to help local communities strengthen their capacity for resilience, economic welfare and lasting peace. Helping find sustainable solutions to local conflicts is a key dimension of our Peacebuilding program in the region, which we implement through a platform for community leaders and other stakeholders to come together for open dialogue with a common goal: the creation of lasting peace. This platform for peacebuilding action is known as “Community Dialogues”. Whether at local or regional levels, these dialogues also act as advocacy platforms that give voices to and empower people who would otherwise have had little real effect on the resolution of conflicts, such as women, or young people. See, for example, the Community Dialogue we held for the Mundri community in South Sudan at the end of March, another community fraught with violence as a result of continued cattle raiding.
In 2023, we held 10 such Community Dialogues from May 31st to June 24th across 10 regional districts including Moroto, Napak and Nabilatuk, reaching over 2,000 people. The principal theme was finding resolutions to territorial disputes and the cattle raids that continue to cause havoc between different communities around the region. For many, these meetings are a unique opportunity to address these burning issues and find long term, sustainable solutions. “I want to attest that such dialogue meetings should continue for it will help address current cattle conflict affecting our region, Karamoja, as our leaders and community members are able to interact with the neighboring districts to discuss peace related issues aimed at avoiding blame and promoting solutions to sustainable peace in the region. Thank you Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative for supporting the dialogue meeting,” said Otyang Merikol, one participant from the Lorengedwat Sub-County in the district of Nabilatuk.
The aim of these dialogues was not only to find resolutions, but also to explore preventative measures, bearing in mind the need to ensure that any solution reached leads to long term results. To this effect, it is indispensable to involve local leaders, who must be encouraged to transform attitudes and behaviors, and motivate local authorities and civil society organizations, who must commit to playing their part in the creation of localized security measures. For example, some groups of local women agreed to talk to their sons and encourage them to desist from raiding animals of opposing tribes. In Napak district, local security providers (the army and police), agreed to deploy at crossing points in grazing areas. Other communities agreed to help in the tracking of stolen or raided animals, as many of the cattle stolen from the region have been reported being found as far away as Kenya. In Napak, a special women’s dialogue took place on June 21st. Local women agreed to lead community mobilization and sensitization efforts, acting as proactive agents of change. These actions will include, for example, advocacy campaigns via radio talk shows, facilitating outreach. Emboldening and empowering women to take the lead in peacebuilding initiatives is at the heart of our global strategy at WPDI.
One of the most positive and reassuring aspects of the program is the fact that the vast majority of local people we interact with have a deep-seeded desire for lasting peace and economic stability for themselves and their communities. Building on these aspirations, our Community Dialogues provide a safe space where trust can be woven between different parties. We are convinced that working patiently with a long term vision will eventually help the communities of Karamoja in theirquest for lasting peace.
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