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Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Leaders from Karamoja and Turkana of Kenya are advocating for peaceful coexistence and unity among the Ateker communities.
This comes at a time when security forces are implementing President Museveni’s executive order number 3, to flash out all the Turkana pastoralists grazing in the Karamoja sub-region.
Last month, the leadership of Ateker ranging from the political, professionals, women, and youth from the four countries of Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda converged for the Ateker Development Conference in Nairobi – Kenya.
The group was seeking transformative ideas, peaceful coexistence, and programs that would help to change the state of the Ateker cluster in the four countries.
However, in the follow-up meeting held on 4th January 2024, in Moroto district, the leaders from the Turkana side in Kenya appealed to the government of Uganda to consider allowing the two Communities of Turkana and Karamojong to peacefully coexist while sharing resources to promote social and economic transformation.
Jeremiah Lorukai, the Turkana County Governor said that they are concerned about President Museveni’s executive order number 3 banning Turkana pastoralists from grazing in the Karamoja sub-region.
Lorukai observed that the ban has greatly affected the Turkana Pastoralists who used to rely on the resources from Uganda following the prolonged dry spell in Turkana County.
He appealed to the Ugandan government to give the Kenyan forces more time to investigate and apprehend the killers of the geologists.
Lorukai said that they are also seeking guidance and are ready to compensate for the geologists who were killed so that the two communities continue coexisting.
Christopher Nakuleu, the Turkana County Assembly Speaker said that they are exploring all possible means of resolving the conflict between the Turkana and Karamojong communities.
Nakuleu demanded the release of Turkana pastoralists detained in Ugandan prisons for illegal possession of firearms as one way of fostering togetherness.
He said that the two communities should be allowed to coexist peacefully and share their resources as Ateker clusters. He also emphasized that the communities observe the rules and laws of each country while the leaders take part in sensitizing people on the modalities of movements.
Nakuleu appealed to President Museveni to find better alternatives for solving the security matters without separating the two communities of Turkana and Karamojong.
Peter Lokeris, the chairperson of the Ateker Development Conference and also the State Minister for Minerals said they want to use all possible avenues to stop cattle rustling that has created disunity among the Ateker group.
Lokeris said that they are looking forward to designing the mechanisms to build a strong relationship in the Ateker group and find a lasting solution to peaceful coexistence.
He noted that there is a need to create a peaceful environment where people can move freely across all the countries hosting the Ateker community without any security threats.
Lokeris revealed that they want to identify the root causes of conflicts and provide a stronger podium for continuous engagement for resource sharing as a community living in diversity.
Lokeris accused Turkana pastoralists of entering into the region with illegal firearms which the Karamojong warriors were hiring for raiding each other. He urged the Turkana leaders to warn its people and stop them from entering Karamoja with illegal firearms while searching for water for their livestock.
He said that they are engaging leaders from the four countries hosting the Ateker cluster to emphasize peace-building processes to grow economically.
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