WISDOM OF THE TEPETH ELDERS

This week I found delight in documenting some of the ingenuities that God the all mighty has given to the Tepeth people. The people of the mountain. Mountain Moroto. Their wisdom as reflected by the way they named their sub county, their parishes, their villages, their...

Tapac is the sub county and the name comes from the fact that wide seasonal rivers and bloodcurdling valleys are commonplace both on the way to and inside this land. There is also Natumkale - the parish; ‘ngikalei’ is a Karimojong noun for kids (the young of goats). Natumkale is a description of ‘fat kids’. They told me the name was given because young of goats are really healthy in this parish.

Another is Katikekile - the parish. There is scarcity of water in this place and an old story has it that one time a man drowned inside sand in the course of digging for water. So the place was named ‘Katikekile’ which means ‘it pressed a man’. Then comes, nakonyen the village; ‘ngakonyen’ in ngakarimojong is the eye. The name is got from the business of the eyes in looking all round especially when one is conscious of external threat. The Tepeth named this village baring in mind the insecurity problem in the location. Indeed, when you are in nakonyen all your senses should focus on insecurity. It is one spot in Tapac with the highest level of threats. Threats of attacks from Matheniko and threats of attacks from the Turkana people of Kenya.

There is also Kosiroi -the village. ‘Ngisiroi’ is a Karimojong name for some small size type of wild animals commonly known as digidigis. Am not sure if ‘digidigi’ is English, but at least I have ever heard even an English man call the animal the same name. Kosiroi was named so, because of the big number of digidigis (ngisirois) in the area. You will also find a village called Naut. ‘Ngauuata’ is ngakarimojong description of valley lands. The village is precisely sited on this type of land, hence its name.

I equally find beauty in the naming of Nakwanga -the parish. Ekwang is white thing in colour for ngakarimojong. The parish of Nakwanga has got majority white looking trees according to the Tepeth. I think they also considered white flowering flora that are common here. So the name was created. It is ‘white environment’ -to loosely translate for you. Another village is Adulai. Ngidulai are granaries (food stores) in the above local language. The Adulai people had lots of granaries and so the Tepeth thought the place suits being called Adulai.

Now think about Didi village. This is just a description of a narrow path. Apparently, the way to Didi village is quite slim. The village is located in the middle of rocks up far on the mountain top with white snow oftenly hanging lazily above it. In their acumen, the Tepeth had to say this place is Didi. When you come to Lopelipel, you will be told that the name was given because of the gradient of the way from this village. ‘Epilipeli’ in ngakarimojong is a depiction of ‘hilly and rocky’. If you know this village, then you must know why non-4WD vehicles cannot easily climb through despite the well graded road.

Funny names are many in Tapac. In fact all places are named because of a thing or two. Let’s talk about a village called Naracuc. The Tepeth told me that deep into the heart of this village up in the thick of snows, flies cannot survive because of the coldness involved. I visited naracuc but time blocked me from reaching the snow spot where Francis Lowal’s family live. But reader, it is a beautiful environ. It has beautiful rocks and valleys. Beautiful people. Beautiful...I’ll tell you all tomorrow.

Even just Lotorongor is a funny village name. Lotorongor is found in Natumkale parish at the border of Kenya - almost nearing the great East African rift valley. The name Lotorongor was derived from ‘angorianut’. This is ngakarimojong for dirtiness. Boy, people here are true dirty human beings. Think about a dirty person as said by a warrior...it is real dirtiness of the body and of the environment. So by the time a warrior calls a thing dirty, it is more that it. A scientist would describe it as death.

The story is too big here, but I have little space and little time on this precious weekly blog of mine. I will stop here, go home and think about another thing for my audience because I can’t write a Bible! Why talk of a Bible? There are 31 villages in Tapac, all with their interesting meanings. So over 31 descriptions of meanings will use up my ink. Let me attend to another life-line for now and for the rest of this week...

NAKONYEN, THE COSMOPOLITAN VILLAGE

With a population of over 500 people, a chunk of land that touches that of Pokot-land, that of Matheniko and nearly the soils of Bokora; Nakonyen village is a distinctive rural setting that needs special focus by people in the development steer ring.

This south western Tepeth home place is famous for numerous things. Most NGO and government facilitated tribal, cross border and clan conflict peace talks in the warrior districts of Uganda and Kenya are convened in this village. Nakonyen has Kenya Pokots from the Northern districts – people from Alale area, Uganda Pokots from Amudat district to the south of Karamoja, the Tepeth themselves from the mountains of Moroto and some -not easily identified Matheniko and Bokora people.

It is unbelievable, but these people coexist in this rich piece of land for several reasons. According to Mzee Lomiat Eliya, a top opinion leader of the Tepeth in Uganda, Nakonyen is yet to be discovered and built up. “This is the place where the Tepeth would have settled if there was security,” Eliya says as he struggles to break the virginity of the flora from a plot he admires for the growth of cereals.

Although it is put at the rank of village, Nakonyen is more than even a parish; it is actually capable of a Sub County. The ‘village’ has four settlement points; there is Naturungole at the central vicinity, Longolebukut South of the locale, Napukoret to the East and Lonyaa in the Western quarter. Three of these are Kraal locations, save for Lonyaa which is a shamba-land and -a free for normal hut building spot.

Why does anyone think that most development partners choose Nakonyen for peace negotiations of tribal conflicts? It is because the place is not only one of the major crossing points for raiders, it has a mix of people living together but also a hide out for criminal characters. The people in Nakonyen can be raiders and can also be used to block raiders. They can ambush and do killings, yet can also be used to crash people who do such killings. But what is important to mention about this vast village are the attractions of its inhabitants.

Two main things have invited people to Nakonyen; the fertile-virgin soil with a rain belt placement that favours crop cultivation and the sexy green grass that makes animals ever healthy and ever happy. Although the village has only one borehole as a water source, the community here are persistent and are ever active digging and shouting after their animals. Cultivators come from such Tepeth villages like Timngorok almost at the Imaget some 30 kilometres away.

After seeing all said above, I will not end before warning you land-hungry man of the obvious stinking insecurity in Nakonyen. Die-hard men and women who do human sacrifices for traditional reasons also live here. Die-hard hunters who can turn their bows and arrows and guns on innocent men of God also live here. Die hard raiders who solely rely on the art of animal theft for livelihood are members in this jungle.

Nevertheless, looking at how people struggle to find at least some thing to do in Nakonyen, I feel government and her partners in development can achieve bigger things for this cosmopolitan community. The local government could give Nakonyen a sub county status straight so a visible headquarter is created. The offices would call for the provision of maximum security and the need for revenue for the sub county development would enahance the establishment of market places. Being at the border, I see a great market for both animals and imported goods from Kenya.

Other partners would fill other gaps like health and educational services delivery. Then the virgin chunk of land would be put to use. Otherwise the truth that needs to be told is that the Tepeth are cheated as long as Nakonyen will keep being referred to as a village. Me I call it a sub county already because of its size and its potential to sustain itself upon any government initiated development... full stop.

THE PARTY THAT ATE THE WEEKEND

What a party! I have never known by the book what men and women need in a party. Over the weekend there was this brief revelry organised by my work colleagues to pat Patti. Patti was our admin lady. Upon directives from above, she is taking her expertise to a bigger office in a different location with the same employer.

Two things drew my attention as a free man in a new world of teetotallers. It wasn’t the music, not the pithy munchies or the party outfits, but the speeches and the temperament. Ok, lady Jacky who was at the skyline, presided over the thing. Jacky did not make a full vocalisation; I know she could have, but as a pivot, one has to touch here, turn there and open space for representatives and generally to make everything possible. She was perfect - to say the least.

As cold wind from the Imaget slithered in the milieu of the party birds, you could tell that some things seem missing for the gentlemen and ladies around. Well, the table at the centre had some drinks –mainly beer for Simon’s friends and sodas for my associates. But my colleagues still looked lost! Some are looking at the heavy sky, some at the pithy munchies. I could not blame the new staff seated like observers of a community event...I think the heaviness is partly because of the foreign-like weather and the absence of lady guest of honour. Honestly Patti came later, and edibles were frozen already.

Tommy, the guy that was charged with speaking for my village mates observed that Patti was going away but should rest assured that she will be remembered by the villagers for her smartness in doing work. Patti’s common avowal “it’s not nice...we have issues...” were according to Tommy some of the things that will make her remembered.

For me Patti is a perfectionist lady who treasures smart work, clarity and plane facts. If you took unfinished work to her, she would kindly ask you to clean it up. If you returned to her with another gap undone, she would say “it’s not nice...and wordy you a lot to make you feel flippant. This -we should face it, is administrative character. As a mild administrator you will not last long and will do poorly because the administered will let you down and of course let you go!

Another big boss with a bible name also coddled Lady Patti along the same line of work. That she loves transparency. That she is a lady of precision. Dan thanked colleagues for keeping Patti safe and wished her well in the new office.

Like already hinted of her, Lady Patti came down to say sorry to those she could have exasperated during her time with us. She could have not said this, but I think she did it because speakers had spoken their hearts about her. She must have felt loved by the mere fact that colleagues understood her and said it without hiding what she really is. I observed the nonconforming emotions with which the jean lady spoke. She wanted to cry because she could not probably stand the weight of love as expressed by friends.

The next business was the music. Some prickly song was played as the crow flies to raise the curtain for the dancers, and the man who took the jean lady to the podium was John himself. John is the man in charge of local procurements and maintenances and welfares and securities and stock and...

As a very busy man or a man of numerous appointments, I left this place shortly. I had to leave because in any case I did not have electricity. It seems people caught fire right away and burnt themselves quick. Next day in office, the pictures taken by one of the common boys were pretty crazy! But the big thing had happened and happened successfully.

FOOD HUNTING IN THE TEPETH LAND AT THE BORDER

Where else can we get food if not from this very hard soil? This is the question I envision as would come from my mouth if I were one of the hundreds of Tepeth people living atop Mt. Moroto at the delicate border of Uganda and Kenya.

At the level of learnt people (Ugandans), the debate about the plight of the Karimojong just cannot end. The difficulty results from stinging poverty as measured mainly by the level of hunger. The arguments of intellectuals about this.... I staggered with one on facebook the other day until I don’t know...

As I plot a route to Adulai village someplace in the corners of rocks up the Moroto Mountains; deep emotions fill me. This is caused by the painful sight of young things struggling with life in this isolated spot of the world. The sight reminds me of Lokito, the little boy I met in Napakakimul village last November. Lokito like I narrated to girl friend then; wore nothing to cover his skin but had a fat bundle of firewood on top of his frail head.

His story is: Lokito stays with a deaf, blind, crippled grandma. This is too much...it sounds like an exaggeration but true. Very true. I rejected the info until a stopover at the corner where Lokito and old Nakolong subsist.

Lokito does the cooking, hunt for water, tilling the rocks to grow some sorghum... He has no house, but struggles to thatch cabin where the old thing sleeps. About links of this family, I never got transparency and cannot have it on pen and paper. The only believable chapter says the Turkana people of Kenya in a revenge attack killed 15 people same night in the homestead that was. The incident happened close to a decade ago. Baby Lokito and old, deaf, blind, crippled Nakolong were left, for they could add no point to the revenge project. End of the recollection.

Back to Adulai, The young girl struggling with the weight of a hoe is Nadiim Achuuka. She is young for that work but she has to do it in order to be able to eat. The Tepeth people have fertile soil with fair vegetation coverage but the rain is unpredictable. It can come and go away when it likes and the crops will dry. When heavy long down pour is achieved, the crops are swept away. Look at that background...looks good for agriculture, but the Tepeth have never had food.

NGOs and government agencies like NAADS work here. They put effort and double effort but tomorrow the Tepeth will again go die in Kenya because they need food. Some analysts now say building the capacity of the people on crop growing is the way to go. But will the Tepeth grow crops on rocks? How about the water erosion? We probably need a multibillion dollar project to straighten things for the Tepeth and the Karamoja people at large. But most importantly these people’s voices are not hard. Leaders?

Somehow when you are here, here in this Adulai route, you can deem that the decentralisation policy and the splitting up of the Country into small pieces as Mr. Museveni is doing might create some difference. Just some difference I say. I simply just say. A mere statement.

Ok, you might think a leader for the people of Adulai, one for the people of Didi, another for those people of Nauut in Tepeth-land; or separate ones for the people of Lokali, of Kalapata in Dodoth-land; or independent ones for the community of Toyepetoto, Nailikonyen in Bokora could be helpful for them in parliament. Other communities in villages like Losimit, Sakaale in Pien including the villagers of Kadaam and Loroo in Upe could be heard crying too!

But when we get to know book, we tend to have intellectual forces. Intellectual forces cannot allow us agree on one theory. When one person designs a strategy, other brain workers will first critic it. They’ll strive hard to find more weaknesses and limit the projected advantages. This discourages the ‘trial and error’ method that experience says is the reason for success of most scientists in the world of physics. Mine is prayers what about you?

THE DEATH OF A LOCAL MAN OF SCIENCE

Morris Xavier Owona, Teacher at Moroto PTC

Morris died after anguish from scores of illnesses. He had his kidney shattered. His liver devastated. His lung smoked off. He could have died because - liquor his long time friend became a foe at long last.

He smoked cigarette since childhood and drunk a sea of pungent fluids like he created it. Yet, he taught like a preacher-man against the same drugs. But he also knew health science like he could never touch spirit.

Now he is gone because he could not practice what he really preached, so to speak. The science he taught is commonplace in Karamoja, other beneficiaries took it to Teso and some let it reach Bugishu. I think some seeds could have scattered to other parts of Uganda. Who knows, people traverse the world with their knowledge. But Morris is no more.

In my view, he is not to blame. I condemn the convolution of things in this world. One would slam God for creating such a world where knowledge and thoughts sometimes fail to work as a team. But to blame God is to lobby for a free ticket to enter the kingdom of Satan. Yes, we all know that God is the omnipotent. We cannot blame the omnipotent! So who do we blame?

In his last days, Morris talked a lot about life in the past and in the contemporary. He did oodles of comparative analysis about the two worlds. He certainly needed a chance to stay alive again and teach the world better. But God denied him the opportunity. Ok, God knows better.

I sat and talked with him many things. I didn’t ask him questions, but he put many to me. He challenged me on the way of life. He hated the young of this generation who abused alcohol and called them “a shame of the age”. He didn’t want to talk about his own video with the same drink because he had stopped shooting it completely.

His enemies called Morris a mad drunkard. Some referred to him as an indisciplined teacher. Others said he was a naughty, arrogant dirty character. While several others didn’t care about his lifestyle and only looked down upon him...just like a child whose age probably is the problem. But Morris was an adult in his middle 50s. Ok:

His friends will miss him for his generosity. Like most Karimojong people he believed in sharing and always wanted to be with a companion while on a lunch table. He also valued constructive debate especially on intellectual topics and this was only constructive when he is sober any way.

He was quick at recommending young eloquent debaters for political contests. He called the current MP for Labwor County, “a man with a long vision but with a personality that needs scrubbing a little from the inside of him”. He said Mr Ayepa had a small heart.

He argued that people with small hearts cannot repress emotions for long. “They are hot tempered” he roared. I tried challenging him that hot temper can be for the good or for the worse and that Hon. Michael’s temper is actually for the public good. But Morris won the debate. He said “electorates will not analyse you like academicians. They’ll use one scanty scenario, magnify it and political opportunists will use it against you for selfish gains”. The bottom-line, I liked his brain. He even knew his complications as a bedridden man. He probably even knew that he would go. He was intelligent.

My very last moments with Morris was at his college home in Moroto. I played for him South African music of the apartheid age. He loved it so much. I also played some older songs from the Congo, Tanzania and Kenya. He said the songs would take him back to the 70s when he used to play football as a student. Songs of Vvon Shaka Shaka and other African artists of the 90s also dug old memories from his head.

Now he is gone, as this sentence comes to an end, let me play some more of these South African songs just to make me remember Morris’s last words for the youth of today and tomorrow. May his soul rest in perpetual peace.

JOINING EAC IS GOOD FOR SOUTH SUDAN AFTER A TIME

After attaining the much needed autonomy from Omar Albarshir’s north Sudan just last year, South Sudan has, gradually continued to crave for more opportunities that can augment her social, political and economic growth now as a standalone nation. One of such opportunities is to join the regional consortium - the East African Community(EAC) which currently comprises five nations; Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi.

For a juvenile state of South Sudan’s stature, this is a good move, but it is very fundamental for the actors involved in the bargain to cautiously consider in equal terms, the political and economic ramification of joining the bloc at the moment.

Yes, there are some benefits in the offing: The geopolitical placement of South Sudan alone can improve the cards for herself and other members in and around East Africa. Indeed; Ethiopia, North Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo consider South Sudan as a prosperous destination with raw materials for political and economic strength in the East African corridor.

This set-up would make Government of South Sudan (GOSS) the protagonist in the play for regional balance on the East African soil, thus, giving the new state a big chance for political and economic bulge in the region if they joined the bloc.

GOSS would also harness the chance for early maturity in democracy and good governance before power starts corrupting its current holders in Juba. Today the leadership of Salva Kirr Mayardit is still viewed largely by ordinary southern Sudanese as saviours, just like that of Museveni after the 1986 breakthrough in Uganda, or that of Mugabe and his Zimbabwe in 1980. Therefore, the immediate joining of the regional bloc is an asset that can enable early political counselling by EAC member states for GOSS to follow the right democratic path so as to avoid future internal power struggles that might tear the country asunder.

For specific EAC member states like Uganda, the entry of South Sudan would clear the clouds of war especially the northern Uganda mystery epitomised by the spiritual war Lord Joseph Kony. The fugitive has in the past used the jungles in southern Sudan with support from his fellow criminal Omar Al Bashir of the “Arab Sudan” to cause atrocities in Uganda and Southern Sudan. But the teamwork of the SPLM and the UPDF contributed hugely to the shrinking of Kony’s project in the two countries. Such teamwork can be sustainable with the admission of South Sudan in the EAF.

As for Kenya; opening the door for South Sudan is another window of opportunity for the East Africa’s economic giant to reap big and compete at continental level. Already, Kenya has scooped over $5 billion of the new investments like the construction of a 1,400 kilometre oil pipeline linking Juba to Lamu port, the construction of an oil refinery and seaport in Lamu itself and the building of Mombasa –Kampala rail line.

Kenya and Uganda are also twin beneficiaries of the agro-based products and raw materials sold in the South Sudan market. Economically, this is also good for GOSS only if the governments of the former countries really become transparent enough, otherwise GOSS should take time, think carefully, and bargain carefully before joining the bloc.

I believe the best case scenario for forming trading blocs is having equal economic strengths, and south Sudan is of great disadvantage here. The country still needs to organise herself internally by strengthening the economic and political systems before thinking of merging with her better developed neighbours. Otherwise, she might in the long run suffer most from unilateral demands by some of her fairly developed neighbours.

For instance, in 2010 at the height of the European Union (EU) and the East African Economic partnership (EAC -EPA) negotiations, Kenya threatened to break lines with EAC if it rejected signing the treaty with the EU, thus forcing members to do things involuntarily. Such pressures from powerful states can be dangerous on smaller nations.

Another tricky thing that South Sudan needs to put into perspective is the way of dealing with north Sudan leader Omar Al Bar-shirr who is wanted by the ICC for allegations of committing crimes against humanity in the Darfur region and other parts of South Sudan.

Do all East African heads recognise that Bashir should be sidelined, and are they able to apply economic and political sanctions on Khartoum for her continued intimidation and assault on southern Sudanese people? This is important because AU leaders last year surprised the world by defending Bashir from the arm of the ICC. If this cooperation is lacking, then it is useless for south Sudan to join EAC now. The bottom-line: GOSS needs good time to sort out itself before any plan B.

KAABONG AFTER 23 IN YEARS.

KAABONG AGAIN. The year was 1989 –I confirmed this time through a brief ring to mommy who is over 100+ kilometres away in sweet Morulem, Abim district. Gifted indeed by nature, Kaabong district in Karamoja region is where I spent my preschooler days until 1989 when the family had to move closer to the birth place of mom and dad in Abim.

Today am here again, God! I can’t even remember a thing in this place. How time runs, mom on phone asks me to go see Komukuny girls’ primary school, where she used to teach and Komukuny boys’ where daddy was second to the head teacher then. I visited Kaabong Secondary and, - boy; all is beauty – the packed rocks done by God, yet looks like man’s handiwork. A Bududa man would live here on constant heart break, but here- naught, the earth is tacked in Karamoja.

Situated in the middle of squatting rocks, kaabong town has just about four streets; Main Street, campswahili road and some nameless ones. Oh.... but you can’t easily visualise these roads because good structures are yet to be born.

The best accommodation for you diplomat visiting Kaabong district is Memabo Lodge and restaurant located at the centre of town.I took the trouble to engage Mike Mudi the proprietor of Memabo into some non-formal interview for some 180 seconds. Friend, talking to people is such a good! Even to strangers, some can show you a greening line in life.

Out of the blue, I discovered that Mr. Mudi actually knows daddy. Muddi was head prefect in Kaabong S.S, 1988 when Ben my dad was deputy head teacher Kom boys’ and also part-time coach of the English language subject at the secondary school.

A robust engineer, credulous of the availability of funds would cause lots of cries and mourning for land owners in a bid to re-organise the town council of Kaabong. Am not implying that the town is disorganised and needs to be sorted out, I just think a civil engineer whose head has a clear picture of a fairly ideal town in the contemporary world would think of opening up more streets that might crash down most houses and other old style property in Kaabong town

Nonetheless, am joyous to be back again here in this small town that my family lived in 23years ago when I was a mere toddler. I can visualise some young beautiful ladies also decorating the dusty town. Wait! Am not just being funny or womanising in this statement –no! A man who is not interested in ladies is not normal...am just being normal.

The only injustice I can see is that imposed on the town by Kampala just like many other juvenile towns across the country. Despite the gold deposit, the famous Kidepo National Park, the beautiful scenery and the presence of a unique iik tribe that have attracted tourists to this part of the world, things have not changed.

Amin’s Kampala would simply say UNRA, I want a tarmac road from Lira to Kidepo and the road would be there the next day. Or Ministry of energy, I want electricity power in Kaabong so we can employ modern technology to exploit the gold deposit in that district and it would be straight there.

But let’s pray for the best tomorrow. End of a one day’s quick refreshing visit to dodoth land, bye-bye KAABONG.