Museveni calls for peace to drive devt in Karamoja

President Yoweri Museveni has urged the people of Karamoja to embrace peace as a key driver of development in the region.

Speaking as the guest of honor at the Karamoja Cultural Event in Karenga District, President Museveni emphasized that peace is the critical "ingredient" needed to unlock the region's growth potential.

Reflecting on his first visit to Karamoja in the 1980s, Museveni recalled that the region's population was just 190,000, plagued by issues of hygiene, poverty, and conflict.

He commended the progress made under his administration in addressing these challenges but stressed the importance of continuing efforts to eliminate armed conflicts.

This event marked President Museveni's first attendance at the Karamoja Cultural Event, an annual gathering that brings together the Ateker community, including groups from Teso, Karamoja, Kenya's Turkana, South Sudan's Toposa, and Ethiopia's Nyangatom.

The President acknowledged that fear of attacks from neighboring pastoralist communities, such as the Turkana and Toposa, has driven many Karamojong to retain illegal firearms.

He urged them to surrender these weapons, assuring that the government is committed to addressing cross-border security concerns.

Museveni highlighted the detrimental impact of armed cattle rustling, banditry, and ethnic clashes on the region, which have caused deaths, displacement, and economic disruption for decades.

He reassured the Karamojong that the government would ensure their protection, citing examples from Uganda’s borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where citizens have not taken up arms despite threats from rebels, relying instead on government intervention.

He further explained that the army's focus in Karamoja has shifted from preventing internal tribal conflicts, such as those between the Jie and Matheniko, to securing Uganda's borders against external threats.

He pledged to work closely with the governments of South Sudan and Kenya to foster lasting peace in the East African region.

President Museveni praised the Karamoja Cultural Event for promoting unity among the Ateker communities and reiterated the government’s commitment to investing in water resources for production, a critical priority for the region's development.

The next Karamoja Cultural Event, the 10th edition, will be held in Nakapiripirit District, continuing its mission to strengthen community bonds and foster regional cooperation.