“Today, I realized that peace isn’t hiding in the bush, but is joyfully visible in the community.”
November 18, 2024 – The vibrant Karenga District came alive in early September 2024 as the ninth Karamoja Cultural Event gathered thousands to celebrate “Cultural Diversity, Peaceful Coexistence, and Embracing Tourism for Sustainable Development.” This year’s festival, held from September 2 to 7 in Napaikori, Karenga District, served as a powerful platform for celebrating unity, bringing together elders, youth, women, and leaders from Uganda’s Karamoja region and neighboring communities across Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
A key highlight of this event was the Peace Engagement Day, during which WPDI supported five dialogue meetings, including sessions focused on Youth, Women, Elders, cross-border communities, and high-level leadership. WPDI’s involvement, along with the participation of Youth Peacemakers from Karenga District, underscored our organization’s dedication to fostering sustainable peace and resilience in the Karamoja region.
During these dialogues, local residents, stakeholders and officials could voice and share their views on pressing concerns of the community, and resolutions crafted to address critical regional challenges. The themes included empowering youth and women economically, enhancing education access, and protecting local resources from wildlife and environmental degradation. The discussions culminated in agreements to pass resolutions shared with the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the event’s guest of honor, officiating the closing ceremony of the week-long cultural event.
During his address, President Museveni urged the people of Karamoja to cherish and uphold positive cultural practices while discarding harmful traditions that perpetuate conflicts, such as cattle raids. He emphasized the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence within Karamoja and across neighboring communities in Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan.
WPDI’s Country Coordinator, Youth Peacemakers, and local leaders, participated actively in these meetings. Among the significant issues discussed were barriers to accessing government support funds and resources, youth unemployment and the need for targeted economic opportunities, advocating for educational improvements, including strengthening access of children from all the districts of Karamoja to quality basic education, and enhancing support for women-led peace forums to sustain community engagement in peaceful practices.
The youth dialogue sessions were particularly impactful, highlighting the drive for lasting peace among young Karamojong. Loyep Mark, a 25-year-old reformed warrior from Lopeei Sub County, expressed his gratitude for the event: “As a reformed warrior involved in today’s Peace Engagement, I am confident peace is here to stay because the entire youth of the Ateker cluster are here discussing issues that will develop our region. With our commitment to education, I see a bright future for our children; personally, I have enrolled my two children in school. Thank you, WPDI, for supporting this dialogue.”
Muria Issa, 36, from Sangar Sub County, reflected on the unique opportunity for youth from various clans to unite in peace: “Attending the youth peace dialogue with other reformed warriors was amazing—the first of its kind. Different clans like Matheniko, Bokora, and Pian as well as the Pokot of Amudat, engaged in dialogue wearing traditional attire that symbolized peace. Today, I realized that peace isn’t hiding in the bush, but being joyfully visible in the community. The resolutions we agreed on today make me hopeful that Karamoja will prosper.”
The dialogue not only fostered connection but also instilled a commitment to lasting peace, as emphasized by Lotyang Daniel, 26, from Karenga Sub County: “Youth in Karamoja have been heavily involved in cattle raids, but the dialogue brought us together for a fruitful discussion focused on permanent peace. I am ready to support any future discussions and resolutions for peace in my sub county.”
The dialogue sessions led to actionable resolutions across various sectors, which were organized into commitments by youth, women, elders, and cross-border communities. The youth pledged to engage in productive economic activities and enroll their families in education and skilling programs to enhance economic opportunities. Women promised to support voluntary disarmament, educate communities about the harms of alcohol, and support the welfare of street children in their communities. Elders emphasized the importance of promoting peaceful resource-sharing practices among cross-border communities and working with the Uganda Wildlife Authority to manage wildlife-human conflicts. The Ateker Cluster resolved to respect cross-border agreements for resource-sharing, ensure the peaceful coexistence of communities, and maintain ongoing dialogue across borders.
The participants in the event also produced recommendations for government actions to address specific needs, such as prioritizing free, compulsory boarding education for Karamoja, enhancing local health facilities, ensuring fair compensation for losses caused by wildlife, and supporting women-led peace initiatives. Together, these resolutions provide a roadmap for building a more resilient, self-sustaining Karamoja.
WPDI’s engagement at this event reinforced our ongoing commitment to peace in Karamoja. We pledged to continue supporting Karamoja’s peace initiatives, including upcoming events like the Lokiriama Peace Accord, engage with Karamoja Peace actors in coordination meetings to strategize on sustainable peace and development, and help popularize the resolutions through radio broadcasts, ensuring that youth, women, leaders, and elders stay committed to their goals before the next Karamoja Cultural Event in Nakapiripirit District.
This year’s Peace Engagement Day in Karamoja was more than another celebration; it proved to represent a key moment in the journey of thousands of individuals toward sustainable peace, economic empowerment, and resilience for the region’s future.
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