Some of the cattle on sell at Karita Livestock Market in Amudat district to avoid losing them to drought. Photos by Medrine Apio
By Medrine Apio
AMUDAT: An estimated 300 cattle belonging to the Pokot pastoralists in Amudat district have died in the last four months due to lack of water and pasture.
The Pokot pastoralists in Karamoja Sub-region have for years been migrating to Kween, Bukwo and Kapchorwa districts in Sebei sub-region during dry season in search of water and pasture for their animals.
However, during a security meeting held on December 1st, 2023, leaders in Sebei sub-region banned the Pokot from grazing in the Sebei Sub-region, saying they were causing insecurity as they raid cattle raids and let their animals trample on farmers’ crops.
Micah Lolem, the Member of Parliament for Upe County in Amudat district revealed that the ban on Pokot pastoralists has led to the death of hundreds of animals because of lack of pasture and water in the district.
Lolem acknowledged that their cattle usually survive in the neighboring districts of Kween, Bukwo and Bulambuli but now they cannot access the grazing areas following the ban.
He pledged to work with security agencies to deal with a few wrong elements whose actions are hindering a peaceful coexistence between the two communities.
“We have coexisted with Sabiny for a long time as brothers and sisters and we cannot allow a few wrong individuals to spoil our relationship,’’ Lolem said.
George Owanyi, the Amudat Resident District Commissioner appealed to the Sabiny community to lift the ban as leaders meet to draw better alternatives for resource sharing.
Owanyi said that they will continue to engage the two warring communities to agree and resolve their grievances for peaceful coexistence.
Joseph Lobot, the LC5 chairperson of Amudat district said that a lot of commitments were made by the two communities for peaceful coexistence, and expressed worry that the insecurity is likely to continue if the two communities do not get a lasting solution to the problem.
Impacting the market
The ban has reportedly led to a fall in the price of livestock market in Amudat district, as animals continue to die due to lack of water and pasture.
A spot check by GNNA reporter in the Karita livestock market found out that a cow which used to sell between shs 800,000 and shs1m is now going for shs 400,000 and shs 600,000. While goats and sheep which were sold at shs 80,000 or shs 100,000 now go for shs 40,000 and shs 60,000.
Robert Logir, a pastoralist in Amudat town council said that the dry conditions have pushed them to sell their livestock cheaply to reduce the number of the herds to cater for.
Logir noted that he used to rely on the grazing land from the neighboring Kween, Bukwo, Nakapiripirit and Nabilatuk districts but the cattle have emaciated due to inadequate water and pasture in Amudat, resulting in a fall in their price.
Cherop revealed that despite the low price, the demand for the livestock is also low because the animals don’t look health.
He said he has also stopped milking his cows, and it has affected livelihood.
“The drought has affected even our milk production, I have stopped milking my cows because I noticed they were becoming weaker,’’ Cherop said.
Alex Limale, the LC3 chairperson of Kongorok Sub County in Amudat district noted that livestock is the only source of livelihood to the Pokot communities and them to drought has greatly affected their economy.
Limale also observed that the drought has led to hunger in the Pokot communities, and malnutrition among their children, since the cows are no longer producing milk.
He appealed to the central government intervene and find better solutions for the remaining livestock.
Sebei leaders unwilling to lift ban
However, the leaders from the Sebei sub region have rejected the Pokot plea for forgiveness, saying the district councils had already resolved to ban the Pokot pastoralists from grazing in Sebei sub-region.
Marisa Cheptegei, the LC5 Chairperson of Bukwo district said that the Sabiny still have fresh wounds from attacks by Pokot warriors and discussions about resource sharing may fail.
Cheptegei added that the land in Sebei belongs to individuals, and the decision to let the Pokot graze there should rest with the individual land owners.
She challenged the local leadership of Amudat to disarm their communities before thinking of negotiations and reconciliation engagements.
Ben Soyet, the Kween district speaker, said that Pokot pastoralists have caused a huge loss of lives and livestock as well as damage to crops, which left the Sabiny communities trapped in extreme poverty.
Soyet also accused the leaders from Amudat district for breeding impunity by concealing armed Pokot pastoralists to cause havoc in the Sebei sub-region.
Siraji Chebet, the LC3 chairperson of Chepsikunya town council in Kween district said that Pokot pastoralists have contributed to food insecurity in their area due to crop destruction by livestock.
Chebet said that they have no problem sharing resources with the pastoralists from Amudat, unfortunately the pastoralists turn their guns on the community hosting them.
Modestar Ajilong, the Bukwo Resident District Commissioner claimed that the Pokot warriors raid cattle from Bukwo and take them for sale in Kenya, which makes tracking them difficult.
Ajilong warned that Pokot will not be allowed to cross over to Bukwo district until they accept to voluntarily handover their guns to the government and embrace peace.
Francis Chemusto, the Mt. Moroto Regional Police Commander, urged the leaders from Pokot and Sabiny to establish a committee to spearhead the negotiation processes.
