“People here are not all brutal as I believed them to be”

Youth peace camp in Moroto broke down prejudices and explored the causes for the cattle rustling conflicts

By Sophie Lampl, intern, JYAK

Learning where conflict occurs is the key element of Jamii Ya Kupatanisha’s (JYAK) concept of organising multicultural youth peace camps in war affected areas. The objective is to disseminate the message of peace, learn about peace building and to bring together different cultures, but not to intervene in the conflict.

This year’s camp took place in Moroto in mid September. Over 150 youths from Uganda, Kenya, Austria, Rwanda, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Germany gathered under the theme ‘Non-Violent Peace Building Strategies for the Youth for Karamoja and Teso’. Through a mixture of theoretical and practical activities the participants approached the subject.

The camp was placed in the Karamoja where conflicts raising from cattle rustling have been known for long. Cattle not only signifies living basis, the deep affinity towards the animal creates what is called the cow culture: The Karimojong see themselves ad the protector of the cow, never to be separated from it. Traditional practices like high bride price paid in cows and heroism associated with cattle raiding bear negative influences. Poor governance contributes to the disadvantaged situation, for instance the infrastructure is weakly developed. The illiteracy rate among the Karimojong lies at 82% which is due to the people mistrusting education and school schedules as they do not fit in well with the nomadic lifestyle.

With the introduction of the gun the conflict situation underwent a transformation with disastrous consequences.

“I experienced a warriors’ ambush. They shot me here”, says Cecilia and points to a scar under her breastbone. “They killed my brother and stole all my things”.

Increased trade of small arms has introduced lawlessness and increased the degree of cattle rustling and road ambushes. Government initiatives of disarmament have not been very successful. The problem intensifies as the Karimojong abuse the hospitality of their neighbouring districts, e.g. when they in search for pasture move to the Teso region. Emma, an Iteso, stated: ”They attacked when I was looking after the cattle. They stole 300 heads from my father. I did not have a weapon, I ran for my life. What should we have done, raid them back?”

The youth camp explored the efforts made to build peace in the region. Means of traditional conflict settlement are often not effective anymore, as the traditional structures have changed: The respect of the gun is greater than that of the elders.

New initiatives give hope, such as ABEK, the Alternative Basic Education for Karamoja. This program brings education to the villages and follows the lifestyle there: Lessons are taught in the morning before the youth goes to help their parents and in the evening after they have come back.

The participants of the youth camp came up with their own recommendations to building peace. One is that the government of Uganda should support the development of the region through vocational training and educational programs and implementing alternative economic programmes. Another is for local leaders to promote inter-district relationships and to bridge the gap between central government and local community. Also, participants expressed their hope that international organisations would reinforce disarmament and development programmes. And that the youth will engage in peace clubs and participate in exchange programme all over Uganda.

JYAK takes a positive stock of the camp. In the preparation phase the organisation faced a lot of challenges. Until one week before the camp the security issue was not fully clarified. Finally military escorts were granted to accompany the participants to guarantee their safety.

For the participants, the excursions gave a picture of the Karimojong, and prejudices and stereotypes could be re-evaluated.

“I know now that the people here are not all brutal as I believed them to be”, one participant admitted. “Obviously violence does not lie in their nature but still, they have chosen it as a means to react to existing conditions.”

On September the 25^th, only four days after the end of the youth camp, The Monitor reported a raid in Katakwi, Teso region. Karimojong warriors massacred 31 people. In that perspective, JYAK’s work for enhancing peace-building capacities of the youth is even more needed.