Residents in Agago district are demanding the district leadership to evict all the Karamojong residing in the district because of alleged theft, poor sanitation and spying on their properties.
Majority of the Karamojong includes women and children who are mainly from Kotido, Napak, Amudat and Nakapiripirit districts in Karamojong sub region who have fled to Agago district due to famine and insecurity in their districts.
A resident of Acuru cell in Agengo sub county, Agago district, Smith Opon says that there are a number of Karimojong that is almost surpassing the number of indigenous people there. He added that these people should be taken back to prevent further regrets from the district leaders.
Opon Smith on Karimojong eviction (Luo)
Agengo sub county chairperson, Simon Oromakecha said he was told on 7th February 2022 about the increasing unwanted acts from the Karamojong residing in his sub county. Oromakecha added that animals are being stolen by the Karimojong accompanied by disease-friendly sanitation which is unhealthy for people.
A local known as Komakech admitted that there are a number of Karamojong settling in Acuru village in Agengo sub county accompanied with indiscriminative behaviors.
Komakech on Karamojong settlement (Luo)
According to Oromakecha, his executive sat on Thursday, 10th 2022 and resolved to remove all Karamojong in Agengo sub county. He added that he had a meeting with lower leaders including all the village and parish chairpersons, and resolved to remove the Karamojong.
“There are over 300 Karamojong in my sub county excluding other sub counties in Agago district,” Oromakecha adds.
However, he added that the sub county will come with a final resolution on 22nd February during a full council meeting, and locals should be calm as the district authority sorts the issue out, and to avoid taking the law into their hands.
Oromakecha on executive resolving to evict Karamojong (Luo)
Agago district female councilor for Agengo sub county, Pamela Ayot Ocan said that the district councilors recently debated upon the issue of Karimojong in the district council, and the district chairperson was tasked to handle the issue.
According to a report from the council meeting held on 28th January 2022 at the district headquarters, the district chairperson, Leonard Opio Ojok, stated clearly that he has submitted a report to the ministry in charge of Karamoja sub region explaining how the Karimojong stay is devastating.
The ministry advised the leaders register all the Karimojong residing in the district, however, the district councilors rejected the idea of registering Karimojong, saying that it will give them (Karimojong) away to settle further.
Ayot Pamela on denial by councilors on registering Karamojong (Luo)
“The Karimojong have settled in a number of sub counties including; Agengo, Adilang, Lira Palwo, Lokole, Patongo sub county, Patongo town council and many others, without proper shelter,” Ayot said.
Last month, Mohamed Okwir, Adilang sub-county LC III chairperson, said that the Karamojong arrived in the district through Acholi businessmen who sell sorghum in Karamoja. He added that about ten lorries full of women and children scattered all over the district with an estimated number to be over 500 more than the number of Karamojong who always come to look for jobs and food.
Comments