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Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Karamoja Cultural Day Celebrations hang in balance due to a lack of resources. The eighth edition is scheduled for the 2nd to 7th of September 2024 in Karenga district.
The annual festival is celebrated rotationally in the different districts within Karamoja. It brings together the elders, youth, women, and local leaders to discuss how to promote culture, peacebuilding, development, showcasing different talents, traditional food, dress code, and among others.
It also attracts the Ateker cluster people, including Iteso, Turkana of Kenya, Nyangatom of Ethiopia, and Toposa of South Sudan.
However, a team from the Moroto district has expressed concern asserting that they are struggling to secure funds to facilitate their travel to Karenga for the event and accommodation.
John Robert Adupa, the Chairperson of Reformed Warriors Youth Network, a traditional entertaining group noted that his team of reformed warriors was willing to go to the event but their opportunity hangs in balance over inadequate resources.
Adupa said that most people have given up due to long distances, food, and accommodations to stay for the rest of the days during the festival. He said that the lodge owners have also increased prices for accommodations making it unaffordable for the majority.
Adupa said that he has tried to lobby support from different stakeholders and partners to find ways of transporting the Moroto team but all in vain.
Adupa noted the event is very important to them because it is the only place where they can reach out to different people to share more of the issues affecting the region, especially in the areas of security, development, and transformation.
Adupa said that their major target is the youth who are trapped in life-threatening activities such as cattle rustling that has claimed many lives.
Adupa said that it was important to bring together all the youth from different districts and allow them to express some of the challenges affecting them.
The joint security forces have also confirmed their readiness to ensure a peaceful celebration of the cultural festival.
Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson assured the public that security arrangements to secure the event are set and the identified areas with security concerns will be deployed accordingly.
He warned the people against the imitation of guns during cultural dances, locally known as “Angata,” which undermines the disarmament process in Karamoja.
Longole condemned the use of gun symbols during cultural events and removed them if they wanted their culture to be admired by outsiders.
He observed that guns, spears, and arrows have caused misery, poverty, and loss in our communities, creating orphans, widows, and widowers.
Longole urged the Karamojong community to advocate for cultural practices that discourage children from herding livestock, emphasize equality between men and women in cultural tasks, and reduce idleness, especially among men.
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