Matthew Oloya Oryang, an elder in Lunganuya Parish in Orom Sub County says that the persistent rustling and insecurity have greatly disrupted social, economic and cultural lives in the affected areas.
Hundreds of
farmers in Kitgum district have abandoned farming and oxen ploughing due to
attacks by suspected rustlers.
The affected
areas include the sub-counties of Kiteny, Orom, Orom East, Namokora, and
Namokora Town Council. Its population greatly depends on agriculture for food
and economical purposes.
According to local leaders, at least 302 herds of cattle and 2,000 goats have
been stolen by the South Sudan and Karimojong rustlers between the months of
January and April this year. The rustlers have also killed nine people and
severely injured eight others.
The insecurity has forced many large farmers in the area who plough in distant
isolated places to use oxens to abandon their activities due to the fear of
attacks and losing their animals to the rustlers.
Fifty-two-year-old Simon Peter Luwari, a resident of Labongo Otac Village in
Gulu Parish Orom East Sub County says his pair of oxen was taken away from him
last month by the rustlers while he was using them to plough his garden.
Luwari who is a father of five children says he can longer open up large plots
of farmland using rudimentary tools and cannot even risk going into the bush
with his remaining bulls.
David Okema, a father of two from Okuti Parish says his family members have
abandoned farming following the killing of his uncle by the rustlers last week
while from the garden.
//Cue in: ‘’lok tye acel…
Cue out: …me konye wan.’’//
Like Okema`s family, hundreds of farmers in the area are living in fear and are
now ploughing small plots of land within their homesteads which are also not
enough to support their families.
Alfred Okema, the LCIII Chairperson of Kiteny Sub County says an elderly woman
identified as Evelyn Ayaa was last month assaulted to death by the rustlers
from her garden prompting fear among the people.
//Cue in: ‘’lunywal wa ma…
Cue out: …puru gi cinge.’’//
Bruno
Nelson, the Orom East Sub County LCIII Chairperson fears that the area might
suffer famine if the situation is not addressed swiftly.
Five people were also killed and three critically injured. 1,000 goats and 100
heads of cattle were also stolen by the rustlers in the month of January.
//Cue in: ‘’pien dong dyang…
Cue out: …peko madit adada.’’//
Geoffrey Opyet, the LCIII Chairperson of Namokora Sub County says farmers in
the area are incapacitated to purchase farming machines other than oxen which
are commonly used. This followed the rustling of sixteen herds of
cattle.
//Cue in: ‘’kare mukene en…
Cue out: …university, secondary
school.’’//
Matthew Oloya Oryang, an elder in Lunganuya Parish in Orom Sub County says that
the persistent rustling and insecu
rity have greatly disrupted social, economic
and cultural lives in the affected areas.
//Cue in: ‘’ngom dong tye…
Cue out: …tye katime ni.’’//
Albino Ayina,85, wants the government to urgently address the presence of
illegal guns among the rustlers which he says is the biggest attribute of the
insecurity.
William Komakech, the Kitgum Resident District Commissioner says the security
is aware of the situation and called for vigilance among the people.
//Cue in: ‘’dano aye mito…
Cue out: …ngec bot mony.’’//
Areas astride the Karamoja and South Sudan borders have for many decades been
experiencing recurring waves of insecurity by armed cattle rustlers.
