Sunday, March 1, 2015

Adeu Bishop Henry SSentongo, Will You Come Back?

Rt. Rev. Henry Ssentongo during the consecration of his
successor in Moroto last year.                                          
SATURDAY didn’t get me on course, but the next day; –Sunday did as I attended prayers at Regina Mundi Parish as usual. There was a clear sign of the Saturday function in the heavily packed mini-Cathedral structure tonight. Boy, you could effortlessly tell that your blogger appeared to be among the few deep-rooted Catholics in this holy house that pitiably missed the momentous gathering the previous day on the same spot.  
 
Most of the sheep that didn’t miss out were visibly worked out. They looked easily attached already to the main issue and the main character of the week for this Catholic community. Theirs was now to simply attend his last service and take home his last words of inspiration. Mine was obliviously still more inclined on the procedure of our Catholic mass as usual and the admiration of the beauty of a bishop leading the Sunday prayer. News is power! Now I know.

Former Bishop of Moroto diocese Rt. Rev. Henry Ssentongo Saturday had a send-off mass which attracted a large number of Christ’s followers from within and outside Moroto. Flocks came from many a parish in Karamoja and other parts of Uganda and Kenya.  Details of the speeches, the gifts, the songs and blessings passed on just like running water under the bridge. This blog puzzlingly missed out in attendance because it kept focus on another picture in the world.

Nonetheless, it was equally beneficial to capture some of bishop Ssentongo’s key recommendations for the people of Regina Mundi parish and the people of Moroto as he led his last Sunday prayer in this Church. He will be heading to his retirement ground in Masaka district, but bishop Ssentongo made some powerful observations for the Christians in Regina Mundi Parish:

First, he heartily reacted to the wholesome words of appreciation by Parish Council Chairperson, Paul Abul. Mr. Abul observed that the bishop had more attachment to Regina Mundi than any other parish as he resided within and easily “shared mass with the parishioners quite often”. In response, the Retired bishop said, “Thanks giving is an unbroken chain in the lives of committed Christians”.
 
Abul’s other significant question of compassion, love and honor was captured from the songs of Pupils of Kalas Girls School who presented on Saturday. “Bishop Ssentongo you are going, will you come back?” I believe, the answer to this will roll home when our beloved bishop returns one day for a visit. He seemed determined to always come back as he clearly requested that his name be kept in the list of honorary parishioners of Regina Mundi.

The bishop awakened members of this parish to recognise their apparent advantages over other parishes within the region. He sighted the Cathedral status, and the strategic location of the parish as some of the key attributes that make Regina Mundi stand admirably aside.

He also looked at key institutions within the parish; Moroto Regional Referral Hospital, The UPDF Army Third Division Headquarters, The Central Police Station, and the Prisons. Other institutions he recognised included; Don Victorio Youth Center, the Primary Teacher Training College, Moroto High School and all the NGO offices within Moroto Municipality.

He pointed out that the army is quite an important institution to community although sometimes people might have minimal complaints on their way of work. He equally commended the service of the prison describing it as a destination where people easily get to “understand the human situation.”

Bishop Ssentongo advised members to coexist with the above institutions.  "Let us use and appreciate them". He encouraged internal excursions before running to other parts of the world. In his homily, the bishop encouraged Christians to work harder in life and ensure that what God requires of humanity is duly fulfilled however stiff it may be and however long it may take for man to see results of toiling for the Lord.  “The sacrifices we make to God today are sources of blessings and reward, we may not experience it now, but it comes” he said.

Last year, Italian born Rev. Damiano Giulio Guzzetti was sanctified as new bishop of Moroto Diaocese to replace Rt. Rev. Ssentongo. Whatever the different angles in telling the story of this man of God, Regina Mundi Parish Community will surely miss the service of Bishop Ssentongo.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Chairman Noman, the Court Case, the Ethur and the Future

Mr. OCHERO Jimbricky Norman, the LC V Chairperson of Abim district last week got cleared by the Anti-Corruption Court sitting in Kampala over several horrible corruption charges that would otherwise ruin his political career and also probably hit the final nail on his integrity coffin and get him firmly exposed at home in Abim and certainly also presented unpleasantly nationwide and to the world.
As a proud Athur, I have always maintained that, Ethur are a very small group of people but are strongly endowed with far reaching dreams. We are only challenged a lot by a petty thing called disunion and a bizarre sort of individualism. That self- ego and the existence of some ungracious social snobs armed with that horrendous audacity to keep the small Ethur community shamelessly in shreds, forever and forever. This is a fact, and it’s too bad for us dear brothers and sisters, we need to know it and face it.
In a unified small community, the ideal situation would be such that when Norman got his bats on this discrediting legal inquiry, all eyes and hearts would turn gloomy and a strong fight to let him survive and have a second chance would prevail despite, - yes the usual diversity of interests along politics, along clan, along sex, along race, religion, name it.
Obviously this wasn’t the case in Abim. Boy, it simply couldn’t be. The people were bitterly divided; one side wanted the man effectively bundled off and jailed or even castrated, yet another lot wanted him safe and titanic, - whatever hell of theft he could have actually committed. This is just a pure demonstration of how painfully divided the small Ethur people are. Well, it was also proper for the Anti-Corruption Court to job-wisely and dig into the accusations as presented by the whistle blowers. NB: I think this was not really any politically motivated case as ‘Aunt Alexandria’ wrongly presented it somewhere on social media. I wish we stop such wrong assumptions that only divide us.
In my deeply held honest opinion, the better has surely happened to Brother Norman. Forget about my political orientation if you naively want to suspect! I can’t help repeating that we need to start behaving like Israelites who will always feel deeply snubbed when one of their very own is killed by their Palestinian adversaries, despite the thickness, vividness of the crimes of the Israeli victim.  Reader, you must believe me.
Again, important to note is that winning or losing a court case does not really necessarily mean that someone is clean or dirty. It is also about the strength of the defense /legal team or the amount of money that went into assembling the defense etc., etc. thus, when the accused escapes or loses, all he/she remains with is sorting out him/herself by trying to live a transformed life to avoid another problem because not all court cases can be worn and also not all can be lost.
Now finally Mr. Ochero deservedly sneaked safely out of the malodorous court case. All of us, yes, the whole of Thur ideally needed to breathtakingly come back home, sit our brother down and design a positive strategy to enter into living the second chance to clean life. I don’t mean he didn’t really live a clean life before, am referring to the life where people and or authorities will not take you for granted and take you for a fraud-star suspect even when you could be clean. That life where everyone can duly rely on what you do, what you say and truly believe in you. Then we can move on and let the bad past rot down deep.  
However, am saddened now by the scheme underway to celebrate this deserved escape of our brother. Already, according to sources, the egocentric forces have hoodwinked our protagonist into taking the political-opportunistic approach to commemorate this second chance achievement.
Word has sneaked out that the protagonist plan to organize a big rally where he will scrub repaper (kamlara) in his eyes to force crocodile tears out of his head and painfully cry with the name of his political opponent such that electorates will automatically shower him with sympathy votes in 2016 as they scorn the opponent and consider him a traitor. Boy, this kind of intrigue, antagonism, egocentrism, treachery and fraud display can only drive the Ethur people down lower and lower.
I believe that as district chairman for about a decade, there exist very good things that Norman has done for the people of Abim district. Those positives if well summarized and spoken out to electorates can smartly lift Norman up to victory instead of disgraceful reliance on baseless tricks. Indeed, some of Norman’s achievements include not only the peace struggle and the victory on the Abuk positioning of the district headquarters.
We can also mention his accomplishments in the health sector. His work for the education sector. The road maintenance achievements in all Sub Counties. The effective and selfless employment of genuine people from all areas in the district and beyond. Others are the youth empowerment programs (youth fund). The land conflict settlements in Alerek and Morulem Sub Counties. His effective fight and success against corruption attempts and mismanagement of public funds in the district etc., etc.  
The above are really huge achievements if well explained and we could - yes count on them to make people believe that we really can have our deeply loved chairman represent us tomorrow at a higher level. Then Ethur can decide for a better, steady future instead of wasting time instigating potential leaders to embrace fights, lies, mistrust, and disparagement as usual. What do you think?
 
Alive and Safe HOME at www.owiny.blogspot.com

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Moroto Regional Referal Hospital, a Story of the Cross and Golgotha

THIS blog couldn’t go idle for long any more. Not any longer. Friday night was the right time and the mighty Mt Moroto Hotel was the place. There was time! Enough of it.  Moroto Regional Referral Hospital affair.
The Last Supper: Outgoing Director, Dr. Alex Andema (L) and
incoming director Dr Nyeko (R) cut a cake during the send off
It was thrilling, enlightening, and also heartrending in the chill and with the occasional warm breeze, a natural blessing from speckled shrubs at the foot of the only Mountain in semi-arid Karamoja. Boy, where were you? You could have experienced this tear-jerking moment where members saw the transfer of power from one big boss to another big boss.

Hospital Director Dr. Alex Andema who has served in the 83 year old Hospital for some daunting years handed over the instruments of leadership to new signing Dr. Nyeko a surgeon formally saving lives at Mbale Hospital. Here was a send off as well as a well come in party for the two medical goliaths.
 
Allow me submit that both Dr. Andema and his successor Dr. Nyeko are demonstrably very intelligent human beings.  My impression about this partly came from their speeches on this particular occasion.

Dr. Nyeko’s long speech dwelled mainly on the need to have a strong team where support from his staff is essential. Where love and recognition/appreciation from the community within counts. Importantly, he shared his buoyancy to dare with the strenuous Karamoja environment and deliver to the fullest. He sounded grateful and yet you could equally tell that he looked awaken about the possible risk of carrying the big cross all the way to Golgotha.

My good friend Dr Alex Andema worked the audience with a nip of philosophy; He rightly said that there are only two places known for sticking to one thing. “It’s only in heaven where only good things are done and it’s only in hell where only bad things are done. Here on earth both bad and good things prevail, we only strive hard to try and do more of the good things than the bad things”, he observed on this cold night with a sip of cold Coca-Cola in a glass, not bear, not a Club. He was given a brand new Sumsung freezer in appreciation for his good service.

A send off gift: A sumsung Refregerator handed to the outgoing
Director    by Moroto  Resident District Commisioner,  Mr Pirir
Andema rightly noted that Moroto Hospital has made him a better person and he looks, walks assured that Kabale Hospital his new station will definitely harvest the fruits of his career development while in Karamoja. My appreciation of this man is for his humility, his admission that he experienced challenges and yet he also believes those difficulties are naturally unavoidable and can only be understood and minimized through openness and clear professional internal communication. I thought he is absolutely correct, and you reader?

Division Commander Brig Nakibus Lakara was on to make it clear- the realities that need to be altered.  Although it was party time, he couldn’t pocket the discreditable story of bedbugs reported in this giant government Hospital. Lakara observed that development in such a valued government institution ought to be holistic.

With the multibillion structures cropping up day and night, he begged of the managers of the Hospital to equally streamline services for the unwell who queue in for the free health services. Boy, this is how you expect practical men to speak. If this was America, Lakara’s signal could move mountains. Finally, in comparison he said the Military hospital in Moroto does better. Boy, Lakara did not deceive anyone.

Before that girl and before the boogie, Moroto Resident District Commissioner, Samuel Abura Pirir closed the door to speeches. Although Pirir wallowed and wallowed. He gave a perfect history of the Hospital and other health units in the whole of Karamoja. He couldn’t forget to mention the role of government and especially the NRM regime in making things better for today, for tomorrow and forever.

Outlining his achievement in health systems strengthening as a legislator then could simply make you feel that Pirir’s neck is still a Giraffe’s. He is definitely still looking into the future. He referred to the Almighty as, “God the creator” and in praise of a medical worker, he called that person,“God the repairer”.

One last thing; my good friend young, vibrant, Paul Odaka was voted best male staff, best surgical ward performer and boy, do you remember that brownish nurse? That nurse who simply smiles instead of quarrelling to pregnant women like most midwives of this world. That nurse who won’t blame ignorance for stupid mistakes on poor women. Do you remember her? That one that ensured little Mercy comes through to the World in perfect condition? She deservedly took home the award for best practitioner in the Maternity ward. Her ward –was also voted best section in Moroto Hospital.

LAST WORD: May God bless all those who dedicate their resources; materials, skills, prayers to protect the women and children of this world!


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Clarifying on Our Tribe's Name, Ethur or Jo-Abwor?


By Oscar Okech Kanyangareng

IN summary, we are Ethur. How did we end up with that name and how did the other names crop up?

First, we came direct from the remnants of the Luo in South Sudan, from among the Shilluk tribe in a place called TwenKidi. We got the Acholi were already in Uganda.

After reaching Acholi, one group passed via Puranga, came and settled in present day Kanu and spread to the rest of the hills. We didn’t have one leader but a dozen clan heads who met as a council and agreed on issues of the land.

One of the clans was led by Obwor. Obwor while in Acholi, met the Acholi dominant Chief of Payira clan and picked the practice of using regal instruments like drums, whisks, leadership stuff, dress code, royal seat etc. and -they came with it.

As a result of Obwor’s cultural practice, other clan leaders and the people started giving him more and more respect. Thus, all the people now came to be known as Jo KaObwor. As time passed on, the name got shortened to Jabwor.

Obwor's clan today is known as Epaebwor. We later came to be administered under Acholi during the colonial rule. It’s the Acholi who gave us the name Jo-Labwor as it is in their vocabulary.

The name Labwor therefore went on official record books of Uganda. Meanwhile, the use of the name Acholi-Labwor was just a survival instinct during the regime of Obote/Tito Okello in the 1980s, as a way of trying to identify with them (Langi/Acholi).

Uganda was so tribalistic then. The Langi/Acholi called us that way and we also accepted to identify with that name for survival reasons. But when the above regimes passed on, we withdrew from the name, though it’s still used by other Ugandans as the easiest way to identify us.

We need now to promote the proper identity of Ethur. Meantime, let’s also trace the answer to the question of how the name “Ethur” come about.

As I said earlier, we came in two groups. The the first group of Jo-Abwor came via Puranga and Kanu to Abim. While the second group of Jo-Akwa passed via Orom, Jie and settled around Mt. Toror. They later migrated to present day Nyakwae. It was after a big famine that they migrated to Bokora (present day Napak District) and settled along Nangololapolon, around Lopei Sub County.

After some decades, one time they went for a cattle raid. They were the main fighters yet when it came to sharing the loot, the Bokora cheated them. They protested and decided to come back.

By these decades, their accent and culture had somewhat changed -some of it picked cultural practice of the Bokora. They reversed anyway and settled to be known as Jo-Akwa with thier own ‘Abila’ (cultural assembly) from Bokora.

While the rest of Abim were Jo-Abwor with their own ‘Abila’ under Othem Abiiro, the grand, grand parent of both Jo-Akwa and Jo-Abwor leaders back in Sudan was called Thuri. The name ETHUR and JOABWOR was often earlier used interchangeably by our people.

Labwor and Labwor County was a creation of Colonial/Acholi and government administrators. Therfore, in a bid to unite both Jo-Akwa and Jo-Abwor, we now agreed, spearheaded by the late Hon. Omwony Ojwok, that we should be called Ethur and it was the late Hon. Obonyo Jabwor who was C.A. delegate who proposed it to be put in the the 1995 constitution of Uganda.

Now what we need to do is -sought ways to adjust to the new identity because the official records still refer to us as people of Labwor. The adulterated English version calls us Labworians and even our MP is for Labwor County.

Well, I can’t explain the above exhaustively but these are just highlights and we may need to talk about them in more details in other fora in future so that we can decide for the rightful name for our land.

Oscar Okech Kanyangareng is a veteran journalist, founder and  Execative Director of Pastoralist Poverty Frontiers (PPF) 

Friday, November 14, 2014

ABIM: It's A Leadership ‘Threat’ Question, Not Incompentence at All!

Abim woman MP Juliana Auma and First Lady Janet Museveni
 during a visit to   Arid-land Development Program beneficiaries
THIS is a letter. A notelet from home away from home. Boy, this is a one man’s outlook on the political and development questions back home. Thanks to Marshall McLuhan and his vision of the Global village several years ago.
    
In his book, The Gutenberg Galaxy: The Making of Typographic Man (1962) , McLuhan predicted media that would turn into “an extension of consciousness”.  The fact that today we easily can link up and share information, good or bad with communities whom we are connected to through the World Wide Web and the internet is a live spectacle of McLuhan’s dream decades back.
Thank God this technology has moved fast and getting even faster. Apparently, my own people in Abim district are aboard this contemporary international flight! Through Abim Development Forum (ADF), we are now able to share and seek views from all concerned fellow human beings from all over the globe. Sometimes, -yes we bite each other a lot but most times, we do it for the better. Boy, let’s keep this up, -Nothing to fear, nothing to fury us.
The hottest topic in any land of human beings can be related to nothing more than politics. Abim is therefore not excluded. Electorates always have their own deeply held believes on various leaders. You will not discover enough if you go analog today. We enjoy more through ADF and boy; several observations ought to be validated. The question of how to validate people’s issues can only hang on the sky. However, we can give our views and hope that most people will buy and sell to those who are yet to come home. Home – to the global village. We anticipate and pray hard. We pray that those with no www connections will one day equally join us as china keeps inventing more pocket friendly equipments for everyone.   
Back to the point! My people in Abim have blamed the dawdling development of the district on corruption. They are wrong. Some have decried the poor leadership of individuals. They are liars. Others argue that the central government is the problem. They are day dreaming. Could it be limited local resources? It can’t be. Not. No!
In my view, the real problem lies in the coordination, cooperation and trust for one another. I have always used the wheelbarrow theory to explain the development jumbles in Abim district. My consistent feeling is that all our leaders especially the elected ones have failed to uphold a string that should put them together in front of their electorates.
I thought our leaders should work in such a way that, when Hon. Michael hits a jackpot of development ideas and he is rolling it on a wheelbarrow to Thur soil, his colleague Hon Juliana smilingly supports him by pushing the wheelbarrow from the sides and vice-versa. Back home, Chairman Norman supported by his councilors and the district technical team would be pulling the wheelbarrow home by a rope. Sadly however, our leaders have not crossed this threshold. We are still far.
In Gulu, during the time of Norbert Mao as MP and Walter Ochora as LCV, you could see the true spirit of working together despite holding different political views. Ochora was NRM and Mao a DP die-hard and an ardent critic of president Museveni. However, when it comes to matters concerning their electorates, matters of the Acholi, issues of development, issues that pertains the national dividend for their own people, Walter and Mao would put their hands together and speak one language.
Similar disagreements on political ideas and complete agreement on community development strategies are also evident in most other parts of the Country. The problem with our leaders in Abim is -that burning personal egos. That high level of individualism. That spirit of ‘no one will manage me’. Unfortunately, it only puts our communities in tatters. It injures our share of the national cake since our representatives don’t work together to bring raided animals home. Well, the leaders get away with these mistakes; but, boy the grass suffers. The electorates suffer the consequences and it goes on retarding development of the district.
Look at these scenarios; at Morulinga where we would have expected a solid team to woo and challenge M7 on our issues like health; with the hospital falling asunder. The question of poor road connections. The facts about education bursary for our children etc. We seem to have not presented these critical agenda to the president as a team. We seem to have gone there to disagree with each other. The president can only afford to say; go back home and sort your internal glitches. When you are done, you may come back and compete with others for the national share. Even our in-house threats like issues of land; where neighbors have continued inching into our soil every day. Our leaders do not seem to cooperate to save us. One day we may wake up and realize we are living in someone’s land. Should we really keep this temperament?
The big question: How do we collect our leaders together to discuss and agree together on ways of working together to develop our district and Country together like the Americans do! Where is the answer dear brethrens?  Homewww.owiny.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, July 26, 2014

CHAMELEON BORED MOROTO FANS, POULTRY DEALERS GO TO HEAVEN

THE outbreak of animal sickness - foot and mouth disease in Moroto has opened space for chicken dealers to hit a jackpot selling every bird at double the old price.
As animal slaughterers go underdogs with medical department discouraging any eating of goat or cattle meat due to fear ‘the disease could spread to humans’,   Poultry keepers are enjoying the bonanza.
Currently, the price of the largest cock goes to 25,000UGX. An average bird is fixed at 20,000UGX and the minimum you can pay if your family cannot do without blood is only 15,000UGX.
Boy, despite this Christmas rates, birds are selling like hot cake prepared in heaven and sold down along the most expensive street on planet earth.  Even sick birds are fetching money. Even baby birds are fetching money!
Anyone thinking of an exotic chicken breed business in Moroto? Go for it, there is market. What we are buying today are local breeds whose maturity takes years. Anyone thinking of hiring a whole Lorry to bring cheap exotic chicken breed to Moroto? Just do it! And do it now!
For the next two-three months, I see more hope in the business of murdering chicken and no good return for those who butcher goats and cattle. Why? Even after the veterinary people will clear the ground and give back the knives to animal slaughterers, people can only limp back to a full responsibility of eating meat.
The mindset for now is corrupted and for the Judas in the world of chicken, they will continue living in heaven until the goat-cattle customers get back home late.
What is Foot and Mouth disease?
Foot and mouth, or hoof and mouth disease is a viral infection that affects cattle, sheep and swine. It is spread from animal to animal through direct contact with an infected animal or from food that has been contaminated. Human beings can also spread this disease through direct contact with infected and uninfected animals.
There is also foot and mouth disease found in humans. What is true is that the two diseases are quite different as they are caused by different viruses. However, a doctor’s reason is crucial here explaining why they stopped us from eating cloven-hoofed animals in Moroto. Can any veterinary expert explain this to us better.
 
From the entertainment world. This weekend in Moroto, East Africa’s most celebrated dance hall king Jose Chameleon was in town. According to eavesdroppers, this fellow sneaked in to take advantage of Karamoja’s sexy scenery at Rupa mineral bank in Moroto district. Snoops suspect that Mr. Chameleon might be cooking another popular Music video with a Karimojong ingredient in it.
He bored the crowed at Hotel Leslona when his fanatics forced him into a performance program. I believe the star wasn’t in the mood of doing it. An inescapable plea from local music zealots forced the tired Chameleon to the stage. He did about six songs in about six minutes and you can tell how the fans must have cried for more. They equally cried for their hard earned 10,000k they surrendered for entry.
In my honest observation, something so special was expected out of Mr. Chameleon by Moroto fans.  His wife Daniela Atim grew up in Moroto town. Daniela’s childhood friends and those admirers of her impeccable look were enthusiastic and wanted to see their girl alongside the music giant during this surprise pop into Karamoja’s most known town. She was not there.
At the show in Leslona, fans openly and loudly referred to Chameleon as MUKO. Chameleon also visited Moroto’s top Club 24 –formerly KICKS. He couldn’t stand the pressure of people following him like Jesus Christ on a second coming. He hardly killed five minutes at Club24. He left the place and headed straight to his hotel. I believe the next time he comes back, it will be in a bigger way. Let’s prepare the ground for the second coming.
 
 

Monday, July 21, 2014

LET’S BROADEN THE “LET GIRLS BE GIRLS CAMPAIGN”

The editorial article “Join Campaign to end teenage pregnancies”, Daily Monitor, Wednesday July 16th caught my attention.
The “Let girls be girls” campaign launched recently by the Ministry of Health in Butaleja district is indeed an important national crusade that should be upheld in all districts in order to attain positive results by end of the 12 month timeline. My view is, we could do this alongside other disparaging issues like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the Karamoja region.

The campaign unveiled by Sarah Opendi, State Minister for Primary Health Care aims at fighting teenage pregnancies so as to cut down the current high maternal mortality rate in Uganda.  We can equally integrate other demoralizing practices; FGM, Child Labour, Child Sacrifices and Child Neglect concerns into the fight.
In particular, the practice of FGM has remained at large among the Tepeth and the Pokot people of Moroto and Amudat districts of Karamoja despite the Anti FGM Act of 2010.
The Act, yes prohibits the practice of FGM, recommends prosecution of offenders and the protection of victims –girls and women. However, the FGM culture seems stronger than this law.
Last week in Moroto district, I witnessed a painful scenario where four young Tepeth girls of ages between 12 to 14 were found injured after suffering a harsh cultural maiming of their female genitals. Thank God Police were quick to respond, and the abusers were easily apprehended.
Perpetrators of such human rights violations take advantage of the destitute conditions that children face in the Karamoja setting.  For the Tepeth and Pokot, the season for harvest is also the time for FGM. They believe the girls would easily be kept in confined places and food provided. Because it is culture, children are just forced to dare with it as long as there is no one looking. These days the practice is done in the hidden and mainly at night hours because the ‘engineers’ are aware of the law, but obdurately insist to do it probably for a living.
As a result, several girl children of school going age and beyond have found their ways out of their homesteads due to fear of the practice. Some end up being trafficked by opportunists into other locations where they are turned into sex slaves, casual labourers and street dwellers.
Actually, the fear of such injurious treatment coupled with other economic difficulties back home defines the constant migration of Karimojong young women and girls into urban streets and across the borders to Kenya. Helpless Karimojong women are commonly seen in the streets of Mbale, Iganga, Kampala, Masindi and in Nasal of North Pokot –Kenya.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), about 1,000 girls run away from their homes between 2012 and 2013 to safety centers in designated schools that government recommended in six districts where the practice of FGM were sighted. Such condition makes children lose confidence in life and fail to plan for their future.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and partners like UNFPA, Mifumi among others ensured some dissemination of information and creation of safe havens for FGM victims in Karamoja and neighboring locations since 2010.
The initiative also ensured that close to 70,000 people were touched with information on the FGM law and redress mechanism through drama, outreaches, commemoration of cultural days, exchange visits, trainings and use of role models. Such efforts ought to be strengthened and pinned at the grass root levels to ensure sustainability.
According to the UN World Health Organization, about 150 million women from across the world suffer the harsh consequences of FGM. We are part of this problem; however with a law already in place, we need to double efforts to kick this wickedness out of our Country. We can only do this through a holistic approach where deep-rooted village members from the at risk communities are aboard. Let’s join hands for this Course.