Cleric Tells K'jong to Keep Arms
Email This Page
Print This Page
Visit The Publisher's Site
New Vision (Kampala)
April 30, 2004
Posted to the web April 30, 2004
Joseph Orisa
Kampala
Karamoja Diocese Bishop, the Rev. Peter Lomongin, has said it is useless for the
Government to disarm the Karimojong without guaranteeing them peace.
Launching a book on capacity building and development of peace in Moroto recently,
Lomongin discouraged the Karimojong from supporting the disarmament exercise, saying
those who raided their cattle were still armed.
"Surrendering your guns means surrendering your cows, wives and even life because you
will be at the mercy of the rustlers who are ready to attack at any opportunity," he
said.
Lomongin said the Government should not expect the Karimojong to fully surrender their
guns when their neighbours like the Turkana in Kenya and the Toposa in Sudan still had
theirs.
He asked the Government and donors to convince all countries with armed tribes
bordering Karamoja to have a joint disarmament programme if peace and development were
to be attained in the region.
Lomongin said ethnic clashes and cattle rustling among the warring tribes of Karamoja
and those in the neighboring countries had led to loss of lives and underdevelopment
in the region.
Pax Christi director Dr. Simon Simones said Netherlands was ready to contribute to the
development of Karamoja after the Karimojong had surrendered the guns.
Relevant Links
East Africa
Uganda
Arms and Military Affairs
Presidential adviser on disarmament in Karamoja Michael Lokawa Lote asked the
Government to carry out the disarmament exercise peacefully instead of using force.
He said the disarmament exercise was disrupted by rebels.
--------------------------------------------
This service is hosted on the Infocom network
http://www.infocom.co.ug
