Simon Peter Nangiro, the Chairperson of the Karamoja Elders Association said that they are associating to form a common institution of culture that can address issues in the region.
Karamojong Elders, under the umbrella of the Karamoja Elders Association, have announced plans to transition into a formal cultural institution. The Elders Council has traditionally been the supreme body overseeing the cultural affairs of the region, but previous attempts to establish a dedicated cultural institution have faced challenges.
In 2023, a group of elders, including two elderly representatives from each Karamoja district, convened in Moroto town. During this engagement, 83-year-old Peter Adei from Abim District was appointed interim Cultural Leader, Papa Angasuban. However, the initiative encountered resistance from a faction of elders who rejected the cultural institution, calling for more consultations on the matter.
Now, the Karamoja Elders Association has announced they are in the final stages of transitioning to a cultural institution. Simon Peter Nangiro, the Chairperson of the Karamoja Elders Association, expressed their goal of forming a unified cultural institution that would address regional issues.
“We are looking forward to being recognized as a cultural institution. Efforts are underway to organize a general assembly and define leadership roles clearly,” Nangiro said, adding that the association represents elders across the 13 tribal arrangements of the region.
Nangiro also highlighted the association’s current focus on aiding government institutions and partners in delivering development programs to the community.
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Paul Abul, the Secretary General of the Karamoja Elders Association, emphasized the group's aim to promote positive cultural practices while fighting against harmful ones. He noted that elders are highly respected in the community, and their messages are taken seriously.
Abul pointed out their involvement in peace-building initiatives and their role in reducing insecurity in the region. “We have helped the government engage with our sons and grandsons who were involved in cattle rustling, urging them to embrace peace,” he said.
The elders have also been pivotal in combating early marriages, a practice that was once rampant due to the community’s thirst for cows. Abul reflected on the past, saying that women married later in life, contrasting with the modern-day rush to marry young girls, which he believes is a harmful trend.
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Maria Lochoro, the women's elderly representative from Moroto District, highlighted ongoing negative cultural practices, particularly early and forced marriages, which continue to affect the community. Despite these challenges, Lochoro and her colleagues have been working tirelessly to shift the focus toward positive cultural norms.
“We are pushing to empower women and ensure they have a voice in the community. Our goal is to include women in decision-making processes and ensure leadership power is balanced,” Lochoro said.
She also acknowledged that despite these ongoing struggles, they have worked hard to discourage elders from promoting negative cultural practices and to advocate for the welfare and empowerment of women.
