Kotido tells Otuke to hire Karamojong and pay them with food

Some residents of Okwongo town council in Otuke district are fundraising to assist female Karamojongs who have stormed the area in search of food.

By Acipa Doreen

Otuke – July 21, 2022: The LC3 Chairperson of Okwongo John Bosco Olwit Dagama confirmed the arrival of over 40 Karamojongs to the district.

According to Olwit, on July 20, 2022, at around 2 pm, the Karamojong who are mostly female came to Okwongo town council with most of their belongings from Kotido district.

He stated that the women told him they have left Kotido because of famine which is affecting Karamoja sub-region so badly.

“These women are here to seek jobs to help them and their children,” he said.

Olwit said the Karamojong are staying at Okwongo church of Uganda on approval of the church leaders.

He urges his people of Okwongo to continue offering helping hands to the Karamojong who have come to their area.

Dagama has called upon the government and non-governmental organizations to intervene and rescue Okwongo sub-county because Otuke district is also badly affected by famine.

Gillian Akullu, the Resident District Commissioner of Otuke said Otuke is as well affected by famine therefore her office will ensure that the Karamojong goes back to their land.

“They must go back by July 21, 2022, because where they are occupying is a Church which is also located in a school,” she said.

Akullu expressed her fears that the People of Karamoja have always stolen from Lango and welcoming their women will be welcoming their men indirectly to Lango and some of them may come to steal the few animals like goats that her people of Otuke are left with.

 When contacted, the chairperson LC5 of Kotido district, Paul Komol Lotee confirmed that he is aware of his people moving in groups in search of a better living.

“Some of them came there a long time ago, so it’s not the first time that the people of Karamoja are entering another district to look for food, some are in Agago, Gulu, and other districts,” Komol Lotee said.

He added that he will communicate to the leadership of Lango especially the LC 5s and the RDCs to inform them about his people being in Otuke.

“This is Uganda and anybody is free to go anywhere to look for survival,” Komol said.

Komol continued that the famine situation in Karamoja is so alarming and a thousand people have died since February this year.

He urges the people of Lango and Acholi to support the people of Karamoja with labor and pay them with food.