Nabilatuk Turn to Women to Advocate for Peace

Nabilatuk district has turned to women as ambassadors to stop renewed cattle raids and insecurity in Karamoja.

In Karamoja, while men are seen at the forefront of raids, the women cook food and treat them when they return with injuries. The warriors also believe that meeting a woman while setting off for raids is a good omen.

Joseph Alaka, the District Council Speaker in Nabilatuk says that women are key in pacifying because they have information relating to their husbands’ movements and possessions. He said that the women know when their husbands leave the homesteads to go out for raids and when they return.

He says that it is better they use the same women who are the most affected by these raids to talk to their husbands who are causing insecurity to refrain from the evil acts.

// cue in: “so it’s the reason…

Cue out: ‘’to go and.//

Paul Lokol, the LCV Chairperson says they want to use women to spread the gospel of peace to their husbands, sons, and brothers if the region is to realize peace.

Lokol says the situation could get worse for Karamoja if no permanent solution is sought to manage the security crisis in Karamoja. He said that they have tried all other options to pacify the region in vain.

// cue in: ‘’ women of karamoja….

Cue out: ‘’ and we have peace with them.//

Maria Lomuria, a resident of Kosike Village in Kosike Sub County is one of the women in Nabilatuk prepared to speak to her husband and brothers about the dangers of the raids. She says that the insecurity has caused extreme poverty and economic marginalization as both women and girls continue to suffer at the hands of warriors.

Lomuria, a mother of seven children says she has lost her son who was killed during an operation with the army in the areas of Naweet village in Lorengedwat sub-county.

// cue in “There’s too much insecurity...

Cue out… we are left with nothing”//

Nabilatuk Woman MP, Sylvia Awas says that women have always been on the lead to advocate for peace in Karamoja but they need to step up the effort, especially after the new wave of raids.

According to records, the army has recovered eight guns and 268 rounds of ammunition between February 27 and March 6, 2022. This adds to 162 guns and 1,756 rounds of ammunition since the operation was launched in Karamoja last year.

In November, the army extended the operation for another three months. Brig. Gen. Joseph Balikudembe, the 3rd Division Commander, told journalists that the new phase of disarmament will mainly be forceful, involving cordon and search operations, and those found with illegal guns will be prosecuted.