Let’s prioritize school enrollments to sustain peace in Karamoja

With the armed-violence reduction struggle in Karamoja now a success story,  time is ripe for government and partners to look at other significant development undertakings that will drive the region extra miles and ensure sustainability of the military achievement.

One such actions is strengthening education in the region.  A week ago the Resident District Commissioner for Amudat while commenting on the late reopening of schools in the district, observed rightly that “the insecurity of arms in Karamoja is now-no more, but education insecurity remains a challenge to be equally fought”.

Indeed, although schools officially reopened about four weeks ago, most children in a number of primary schools across Karamoja have not yet reported.  The big blame has always been directed to teachers who have equally fitted into the late reporting culture. Teachers also continue grumbling about inadequate shelter, high cost of living, peanut pay and the harsh environment of the North-Eastern part of the Country.

However, even in some well-established primary schools like; Morulem boys’ Lomukura, Komukuny boys’ and Kasimeri in; Abim, Kotido, Kaabong and Moroto districts respectively, pupils’ registration  for this term still stand below average - almost a month down the road.

According to education experts in the region, late reporting in Karamoja schools partly contributes to the region’s annual poor performance in PLE. Other key factors are associated with the feeding and financial challenges that Karimojong children actually hassle with amidst their learning expedition.

It is important to note that as a result of disarmament and the resulting reduction in raids by Karimojong men, there has been a shift in responsibility in homes.  Instead of men taking the breadwinning role (which used to be accomplished through raids), the button has been passed to the young ones especially girl children.

As a result, instead of going to school, most children prefer rotating within towns to look for ‘exploitative’ assignments in exchange for food remnants to feed their parents and little siblings back home. This task is largely executed by young girls. Meanwhile, the boys who are ‘culturally’ allowed to go to school, equally find it hard to fix such school demands as; uniforms, books, pens ...coupled with hunger –since they (children) also command feeding deeds in homes.  Therefore, children keep postponing reporting to school on daily basis, a thing that adversely affects their performance.

The use of children for livelihoods in Karamoja has become such a disease; even babies of two years are now placed in streets with open-begging hands. In Kampala, not all Karimojong children seen begging in streets are actually lost ones, they are simply engaged by unscrupulous adults –even their own parents!

These challenges can be fixed. Strengthening the school feeding programme in Karamoja is still indispensable. World Food Program has done this for decades now; however, the UN body now appears to be scaling off. Last year for instance, children in boarding schools in Karamoja survived mainly on porridge served once a day due to insufficient food supplies.

A special format of UPE that provides scholastic materials to Karimojong children is necessary. Government could also encourage NGOs to respond more to the education gaps in Karamoja. Currently, attention of most organisations in the region is still on peace governance issues, which is a no big problem for now.

Therefore, development partners could switch and fill the much wider gaps in the sectors of Child rights governance and sustainable livelihoods development for Karamoja. Supporting more Karimojong children in school will reduce redundancy and poverty which are the main stimulus of insecurity in the region.

Apart from blogging, Mr. Owiny is also Programme Coordinator, ANPPCAN Uganda Chapter, a Child Rights NGO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ugandans Need Awareness Creation On Children's Rights

Despite the various legal instruments in place, Uganda is clearly making no progress in fighting Child rights violation, one of the key issues the Millennium Development Goals looked at.

 

Apart from the obvious acts of witchcraft that has seen people look for children to be sacrificed to demi-gods, and demonic fathers turning their manhood inside their blood daughters, a lot of other mischievous persons have turned babies into Gold and diamonds for making riches.

 

Today in Karamoja, the Tepeth and Pokot girls are living in fear. The two clans have persistently continued to practice Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) despite the prohibition of FGM Act of 2010. The practice of FGM remains a lucrative business for cultural surgeons in these communities. Girls of about 12 years below suffer this disgrace.

 

The rampant disappearance of babies from Mulago Hospital equally testifies that we really do not have any strong guard for our newborns. Sometimes I imagine that dealers in young babies have links with some people within the institutions where children have continued getting stolen in a strange way. Should we assume that dealers in children connive with security personnel and some unscrupulous hospital employees to rob poor mothers of their young ones for big cash? Could this be why the problem keeps recurring in a National Referral Hospital?

 

Other disturbing cases of sexual violence against children, child labour, trafficking and carnage keep coming and vanishing unresolved. Could it be the power of money preventing children from getting access to justice against rich adults who pay off their crimes to be hidden under the carpet?

One thing that surprises me however is that most key stakeholders and children advocates only come out to give mere strong verbal warnings when a particular case is already off beam, instead of having a practical policy in place to watch and swiftly clear this humiliation out of the nation. As a country, we lack the law enforcement strength yet a lot of laws are in place.

At the international level, the United National Convention on the Rights of the Child gives an interpretive guidance to the country’s Children’s Act. The act in turn splendidly explains major laws relating to the protection of children in Uganda.

Regionally, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the African Child is in place. There is also the 1995 Constitution of Uganda that explores in different articles under Chapter four, the need to protect young people. 

However, in the face of all the above governmental documents, haunting stories of gross violence against infants have continued to frequently dominate the local media, let alone those the press cannot see. Do Ugandans really understand the existence of such laws or are the laws just a hip of paper work known only to some isolated few?

Available statistics on child mismanagement in Uganda keeps going up, yet in other countries and at a global scale the fight against the problem is contrarily dropping!

A recent media report indicates that on average 23 girls and women are raped every day in Uganda, a figure higher than that of maternal mortality rate which is at 16 mothers a day. On child labour, ILO reports that the global figure came down by a third between 2000 and 2012 from 245 million to 168 million correspondingly but in Uganda, UBOS says two million out of 18 million children suffer the brutality.

In order to fix this issue of national moral insecurity; government, Civil Society organisations and all child rights activities should do more vigorous and broader advocacy and awareness creation on the rights and privileges that children are entitled to. Secondly, tougher but workable policies need to be put in place to ensure that perpetrators of child abuse suffer rightful consequences. Ms. Karooro Okurut the Gender Minister, suggests a death sentence for defilers; if this is something workable - why not do it?

Mr. Owiny is a Child Rights defender

SLEEP WELL OMOJA, SEMINARIANS, NGITEPETH & ETHUR ARE WEEPING

The boy wrote this letter and signed it before taking poison

Today, this Tuesday I've felt another shock of the year 2013. Boy, a young school lad shouldn’t pass on just like an insect.  Not like a white ant whose lifespan is naturally brief and flimsy. This particular loss is as agonizing as…hard to tell.

The S.2 student of Apostles of Jesus Minor Seminary in Moroto district committed suicide. The incident took place in Tapac Sub County, Moroto District on Monday 9^th. His problems may only be traced from his aunt, a teacher at Tapac Primary school.

Omoja was on holiday and stayed at the teachers’ school quarters in Tapac. Well, family issues are countless. Investigators hopefully may find out more, but the boy took poison and died in Moroto Hospital where he was rushed to on Tuesday 10^th. In his pocket, a letter below was found.

8.9.2013

TAPAC SUB COUNTY

P.O BOX MOROTO

 

Dear my family members,

I am not happy to write this letter to you. The purpose for writing this is to inform you that my days have come to an end and I also request you to pray for me that I may rest in peace.

And my last greetings go to the following people: my mother Ogwang Sofia, my father Owilli Jimmy, my big brother Omara Samuel, my sisters; Auma, Acheng, Akidi and lastly Akech. My grandmother, my step mother, my Aunt Awilli, my beloved brother Omara and all my relatives. So I request you to pray for my soul to rest in eternal peace.

 

I forgot to greet my great girl friend Atai Immaculate Martha and all my friends who are in this world. What made me to kill myself is the problem that I am facing in this world. Pray for me that I may rest in peace.
 

Thanks.

Your beloved son,

Omoja Fonicus Omoja

Note: I should be buried anywhere even though Tapac or anywhere else.

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The ambulance for Tapac Health Centre III   was at service instantaneously as the boy's condition threatened. The nurses, staff of the health unit did 100% service to try and keep life in the boy before setting the ambulance on road. Omoja’s life nonetheless met a full stop at Moroto hospital where I strongly believe the doctors must have done everything possible to try and save the tender life of this seminarian.

As the investigating team fill the bumpy road to Tapac tomorrow, sorrow fills the small community of the Tepeth who knew the boy. One close friend of the deceased describes him as a very quiet and disciplined guy. Most people who knew him strongly believe that someone could have silently planted stress in the boy’s life as he never knew how to cause any sort of trouble.

Although the boy like me is from Abim district, I never knew him. I never saw him. I will never see him again.  Now I write out of emotions generated from what people talk and the feelings of those who knew my brother Fonicus. Thus, all I can afford now is prayers, prayers for the good boy I didn’t meet. I plead that he rests well and waits for us not outside the kingdom of God.

Mean time, I hope the perpetrator (s) of Omoja’s death should realise the kind of loss he/she could have caused to Apostles of Jesus Seminary, to the kind hearted Tepeth community who treasured the poor boy, but most importantly, the loss to his family people in Abim district.

 Even if the architect of Omoja’s death will be made to face earthly punishments, life is sincerely irreplaceable whatsoever. A lesson though it is to those of us who are still alive and taking care of dependants. Let’s be human, share happiness and protect life. 

Brother Fonicus may your soul rest in a place out of harm's way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

KARAMOJA CORPORATE LEAGUE, POINTLESS BUT LAUDABLE

The “Karamoja Corperate League” is how the founders call it. Their vision: “A happy, healthy working population in Moroto”. They dream of employees that do not easily fall sick, not frazzled out easily, have full good hours at their work…

Their mission: “Making a contribution through sports in ensuring a happy healthy working class in Moroto”. I have no idea on how this contribution through sports will be enhanced.

Their stated goal: “Promoting Unity, pro-activeness and harmony among Moroto working class”. The organizers equally ascribed their purpose as, “Organizing monthly corporate sporting activities in Moroto”. This is their single main intention. Their games include; Soccer, Rugby and Tag of War, period!

By and large, the idea of this union is great. Last week, upon the arrival of its communication to various networking platforms, I weighed up an opinion destined to expurgate the initiative.  My natural believe is that in a free world, bowdlerizing on everything is essential. It creates room for improvement/adjustments. Agreed, I think the KCL is really unsuccessfully designed and very disappointingly decided.

On networking and putting happiness in the hearts of the “working class” in Moroto, I thought enough is already in place. Unless KCL carpenters intend to have a transition or, - yes I see the organizers might be craving to have a lot in the ‘happiness’ menu.   Otherwise the corporate night is also in place. Others are two competing night clubs; Kicks, then there is Whyspaz. Other happy “working class” go to Night Glory –making for us noise all nights throughout. Equally in place is Mzee-Gee and his comedy things. I also learnt of movie nights now in Moroto.

Sports -Soccer; Moroto has Uhuru League. A lot of soccer teams register and participate in this very popular -poorly sponsored confederation. The “working class” in my view, could throw their ‘pocket’-weight behind this trendy local football league by registering their team too, and participating.

Trying to have another analogous soccer occasion is to me a mean way of trying to draw a thick useless line between “working class” and ‘others’. The ‘others’ may also be doing their own private work or could be beneficiaries of employers of “working class”. My view is, we need to be one. Therefore, we need to create something that will kill the gap between “working class” and ‘others’. We need to engage ourselves into activities that will do real corporate social responsibility roles. What can truly see the corporate giving back to the non-corporate. To the community. To the poor.

What could work?

The corporates or the “working class” for that matter could organise monthly community outreach activities. One thing could be reaching out to the sick and broken hearted in the hospital. With modest packages inform of soap…the corporates could surely soothe and rebuild hope in the hearts of the unwell. 

Another activity could involve the corporates heading to one community say -dirty Nakapelimen and doing meticulous cleaning of streets, digging dumping pits, erecting hand washing gears in latrine locations while sharing with the community the good of sanitation at home levels.

As people of various educational backgrounds, the corporates (“working class”) could also plan for inspirational functions within the local institutions. In the primary schools, secondary schools and colleges. They can organise a number of games, play…could even do debates on educational topics with these young stars. They can create a forum for students/pupils to ask questions on career guidance, career development. Those who happen to be the Old Boys and Old Girls can as well delve into telling their survival techniques in school during their past time. Something the young girls and boys could try out in their current educational expedition.

In this way, I feel the corporates shall be seen as big source of inspiration and mentors to the ‘corporates’ of tomorrow. Indeed, in my outlook, such occasions could send strong signal through the youngsters in school down to their siblings –the ones back at home –making them realize that education is a true route to successful living. My thinking is such activities are more credible for performing corporate social roles. We are talking about what everyone can see, feel and positively appreciate and learn from.

Anyone who will see this opinion as the handiwork of a saboteur is not a responsible citizen of this Country. Whether Owiny is wrong or right is nothing like a problem. This remains a one man’s perspective and it does not mean Owiny will go around trying to encourage souls not to participate in the corporate league. In fact, Owiny will also participate in the league football, but his opinion remains as cool as a cucumber.

www.owiny.blogspot.com

 

The Bike You Should Ride Before You Die, Now in Moroto

Due to enormous public approbation of my humble means of transport here in Moroto, I decided at

A mountain bike is an exciting means of transport

once early this week to put up a shop and garage that will now allow people to acquire, repair and maintain their Sport Bikes.

Do you stay in Moroto and have a bike that needs spares, repairs or do you need a new first-hand sport bike? You are lucky-because this you now can have/get easily. The much specialised shop am talking about is located -Market street Campswahili as you climb up from the Gateway bus park. We are located only one house after the great Hotel D’Andrias. You can also easily access our shop by slopping from Golli Army Club crossing the bridge. We are at -outside lockups of the market.

The products offered are super unique, super smart, super strong, and super cool! We opened this landmark shop just four days ago. The brand we specialise in is called Nati –one of the best bicycle brands in the whole Asian Continent.

For starters, bicycles are of relevance to humanity in quite a number of ways. On my side, I consider; saving time, so that am always early on appointments. This is true when Comparisons with walking or delays due to traffic jam are considered.

Saving money, here you can manage to save the cash that most times get improvidently spent on Bajaj riders. For instance, before I bought my bike way back in 2010, I had calculated the amount of money spent on motorbikes and it was too much.

On average boda-boda could eat Ush3000/= daily from your blogger. This in a month is some Ush90000/= or more. Some people spend more than this and also suffer the risk of being ridden by boys who are sometimes on dangerous drugs…

Killing stress; when my mind seem unclear –I take to a ride away far to a place like the foot of the mountain, a lonely road or - off to Lia Primary school so that when I get back am clear after sweat and just take a shower.

Exercise; our bodies need some work out , yet most times we do not have the time to go jogging it around and or we may feel it is a bother – a bicycle gives you an invisible exercise. Those who spend long hours doing office work should think about this thoroughly. When you must be in office by 7:00am, then there is no time for you to do exercise. But with your Nati Bike, every ride to office is exercise; every step to market is not only relaxation but enormous exercise…

Moses one day got a knee injury after crashing with a motorcycle. In the hospital doctor said to the boy; “now that you fear massage so much, the best physiotherapy you need is to ride a bicycle.” Thus, riding is good and doctors recommend it for muscles rehabilitation in case of injuries, old age, young bones and the like.

Keeping clean and saving the sole of your cool Italian shoe; with a bicycle, like a car-owner, you are not stepping on mud, you are not scrubbing your sole on rough murram all time. In this way, one is kept clean and your shoe soles are not easily eaten up or bent off just like that.

Forget about the aspect of profiteering from this business, I also really initiated this project out of the passion for the machine. Equally, I feel this is some kind of social responsibility- in a way of ensuring that I contribute to the travel contentment of the community within.

Well, the venture might require that the beneficiaries cough on me some cash, but compared to other means like car hire and motorbikes, I feel it’s cheap enough. It’s accommodative to both low and high income earners. The little penny I charge is just to allow for better service delivery.

Don’t forget that unlike a motorbike, a bicycle does not need fuel, unlike the former too, one does not need a riding Kipande and no traffic officer in Uganda has reached the stupidity level of stressing bicycle riders asking for kitu-kidogo, however weak your bike looks. No license you to pay for the ownership of bike…

On the above note therefore, I wish to warmly welcome all those within the geographical location of the project to come and give support. Reader, your support may not only be through coming to buy a product, but come and give advise –to help us serve the beneficiary better. WELCOME ALL. THANKS FOR PROMISSING TO COME AGAIN…

 

RESIDENTS SHOCKED BY STRANGE SIGN POST

Three –two weeks ago, residents of Tapac Sub County, Moroto district discovered a strange sign post

Domokwang Angella, parish councillor surprised by the sign post

planted in the bush near Lokiles village in Loyaraboth parish.

Another unexpected mark-stone written in Chinese was also uprooted in Kosiroi village, Katikekile parish in the same Sub County within same period.

“I think some people are doing an underground transaction on land and other resources in this soil of the Tepeth without following the right procedure” said Peter Loboot, the LC3 Chairperson of the Sub County.

Loboot was speaking during the Sub County council session a week ago. This blog also spoke to a number of councillors of the area at the sidelines of the meeting. They said the Sub County authority had inquired from the district officials about the two issues but no official is informed. “Even the district land officers including political leaders are surprised!”

The councillors reported that strange visitors keep frequenting the mineral rich locations of Kosiroi –where Tororo Cement Factory mining site is based. Others including whites and Indians reportedly sneak to Loyaraboth, Nakwanga and Natumkale parishes where deposits of Gold with very high percentage are said to be found.

Zeah displays the Chinese marble markstone during the session

The acting Sub County Chief, Sister Zeah Waphukhulu asked the community leaders to be vigilant and track such unscrupulous intruders into the Sub County.

“You should be really watchful and ensure every visitor passes through the right channel or else one day you will wake up to find that you no longer have land”.  Zeah added that other anonymous investors had started creating access roads to unknown locations in the Sub County despite the clearly planned government roads.

“It is difficult to tell these people who are creating their own roads in the Sub County without the consent of authorities and without following the existing plans of government for the roads accessing this Sub County.”

Located at the edge of the Country to the extreme north Eastern -Karamoja, Tapac Sub County in Moroto district share boundaries with North Pokot and Turkana land in Kenya.

Although largely known for being insecure due to presence of some illegal small arms and light weapons, the Sub County has a number of unexploited mineral resources according to local authorities.

The Sub County chief said minerals like; Gold, Silver, Limestone, Green and red garnets are in abundance in the area. Others include; diamonds, mercury and a multitude of additional precious stones whose values are not known to the locals.

The Sub County is also blessed with attractive sceneries of Mt Moroto. Tourism assets in the area include the ever-green artificial forest planted by Idi Amin’s Soldiers on top of the mountain and the unique highland settlements and culture of the Tepeth people.

THE PEACE GARDEN, TEPETH SURGEONS VOW TO CONTINUE WITH FGM

Tepeth children learn how to use a bow and arrow, not gun anymore

His aim is to bridge the current hostility gap between Tepeth and Matheniko people. As a true son of a nomad, raised probably in the Kraal and later just ‘smuggled’ to school, he is well aware of the prime cause of the chronic aggression between the two groups, - it is mainly livelihoods. Livelihoods for nowadays, yet during the darker days of his forefathers it was seen fully from the ‘fame’ perspective. Today the justifications are; 50% reputation and the other half is the need for- yes, livelihood.

MP John Baptist Lokii has acquired land at the border spot (‘main crossing point’ –to use a military phrase) of the two tribes and initiated a crop growing project. According to a source closer to the Matheniko MP, the legislator has hired labour force both Tepeth and Matheniko to do the work. Currently, land preparation has started with workers trekking from the two opposite directions at daybreak to converge at the dream garden site located near Musas parish between Katikekile Sub County and Kodonyo parish –Moroto district.

In doing the above, peace maker Lokii intends to reduce animal raids, shrink wanton killings, create friendship by creating livelihoods for the two waring communities he represent in parliament. I find his strategy brilliant because the key motive behind raids, killings and other forms of thuggery in Karamoja today is the need for what to eat. It is thus not a joke like most people have taken it when almost everyone in villages in Karamoja give “Akoro”(hunger) as their biggest of the problems in the land nowadays.

How it might work: by clearing and creating a common workplace in a former battle-field, there will be no more hideout for the trouble causers (raiders and murderers). Secondly, there is a high possibility of satisfying the needs (through employment) of the dormant, outmoded and docile youth that are always involved in causing violence. Thirdly, by having a joint workforce (Tepeth and Matheniko) Mr. Lokii is capable of improving the social relationship –friendship between the Matheniko and their mountain counterparts. The ‘peace garden’ might also act as an assembly point where peace dialogues can be conducted and this will be good for the peace actors. Other development activities targeting the mixed up group can as well be initiated later by different agencies.

For the initiative, I feel Mr. Lokii needs to be commended and supported. Where are the other leaders? What are their plans? We might all not be good at digging foundations but we can join in at other stages of the construction of the peace block. Why don’t we put hands together so as to put an end to mayhem in our land as we look for development projects for our people.

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Shocking news from Tapac Sub County is that FGM surgeons have vowed to continue chopping ‘aerials’ of their women including young girls as their culture demands, provided the promise by government to support them in alternative livelihood projects is not realized.

“We were promised five million shillings last year, but we have not seen even a sign of anything” said one surgeon who preferred anonymity here. The mutilators considered FGM as a source of income according to an opinion leader in Lopelipel village.  Other Tepeth reason that the practice is such that the culture is kept alive, and some elders maintain that when a woman is mutilated then her sexual urge is reduced and she will not cheat on her husband.

For these surgeons to claim for payment upon accepting to abandon the practice is surprising. Whoever made the money promise should hurry back and change the statement or fulfil the assurance before these women lose their heads. However, in my opinion, dishing out money to these people is no correct answer. If FGM was the only livelihood opportunity for these women, then - alternative work should be created for the surgeons. I hope there was really no mention of money made to these women as they now widely claim.

Although available data indicates that the practice of FGM is fast diminishing, “at least 120 million girls and women have experienced FGM in 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East where the practice is concentrated” reports UNICEF. The children UN body adds that “given the present trends, as many as 30 million girls under the age of 15 may still be at risk.”  In Uganda FGM is pronounced amongst the Sebei, Pokot and Tepeth people. Thus, the fight against this depravity should be a collective effort and should be sustained until the practice is killed, buried.