The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Otuke, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Otuke district leaders have sent back hungry Karamojong to Kotido district. Last week, 47 Karamojong women and children from Kotido entered Otuke district in search of food.
They were offered food and shelter at Okwongo Church of Uganda and Okwongo Primary School.
In a meeting held by district leaders and elders, they resolved that the group should return to Kotido. On Sunday, the Karamojong were loaded on a truck and escorted back.
Francis Abola, the LCV chairperson says that the hungry families were sent back because there is inadequate food in Otuke.
Jillian Akillo, the Resident District Commissioner explains that the resolution is not in bad faith but rather meant to help them benefit from food relief being sent to their home district by the government.
“There is hunger even in Otuke, but the government is sending food to Karamoja so we think it is only fair that they return home and receive the relief food,” Akillo said.
Benson Otim, a resident of Okwongo town council is happy that the Karamojong are being sent back because they say their presence in their area posed a danger to them and their children.
On Wednesday, the government dispatched 790 metric tons of relief food including maize flour and beans to the Karamoja sub-region. This is the second time in two weeks the government is sending food to Karamoja after it sent 2,000 metric tons of food last week.
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