Renewed interethnic clashes in Karamoja have reignited security concerns in the region, with three lives lost this month alone in escalating violence between the Pokot of Amudat District and the Pian of Nakapiripirit District.
According to Remigio Achia, MP for Pian County, the recent killings also involved the theft of a firearm from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) detach.
“The ongoing dialogue is meant to iron out such issues and restore peace,” he stated.
The violence extends beyond Pokot and Pian, with rising tensions in the border districts of North and South Karamoja, where the Turkana, Jie, and Matheniko communities are also locked in disputes.
At the heart of the conflict is the widespread availability of illegal firearms, often smuggled in through porous borders, fueling deadly confrontations over grazing land and water.
Local leaders have called for a renewed disarmament campaign. Joseph Otita, Sub-County Chairman of Rupa, emphasized, “Disarmament should continue until the region is free from illegal firearms.” Meanwhile, Peter Ken Lochap, MP for Bokora East, blamed neighboring countries for failing to disarm their communities.
“I wish disarmament could be done jointly across all East African countries,” he said.
In response to the escalating conflict, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convened a three-day dialogue bringing together leaders from Uganda and Kenya.
Joselyn Bigirwa, Head of the IGAD Mission in Uganda, explained, “The meeting focused on resource-sharing, especially grazing and watering spaces, while minimizing conflict.”
However, as tensions escalate, Executive Order No. 3, which bans Turkana herders from accessing pasture in Uganda, still stands. The Deputy Governor of Turkana, Dr. John Erus, noted that Uganda and Kenya had planned to sign a resource-sharing agreement, but the meeting between the two presidents never materialized.
“We don’t know what happened, and now the Turkana community remains restricted,” he lamented.
With no clear resolution in sight, local leaders continue to push for dialogue. Joseph Loboth Nangole, Amudat District Chairperson, stressed the need for Kenyan pastoralists to access grazing land in Karamoja.
“We are engaging in talks to find a peaceful solution,” he affirmed.
For now, Karamoja remains caught in a cycle of violence, with communities and leaders desperately seeking a lasting solution to the region’s deep-rooted conflicts.
