The State Minister for Gender and Culture, Peace Mutuzo, has announced that the 9th edition of the Karamoja cultural festival will bring peace to people in the sub-region, more so the Karamajong and Itesots.
She confirmed the development on August 30, 2024, while addressing the media at the Uganda Media Center.
The Karamoja Cultural Festival will run under the theme “Celebrating cultural diversity, peaceful coexistence, and embracing tourism for development.” It will be held in Karenga district from September 2, 2024, to September 7, 2024, at Napeikori grounds in Karenga district in Karamoja sub-region.
“All this is to ensure that we now look at each other as brothers and sisters and promote peaceful coexistence. The Karamojong’s and Itesots have been having clashes, but this is to make sure they leave together in harmony,” Mutuzo said.
Mutuuzo also added that this get-together event is a precursor event of the main event where the Ateker community will get together and celebrate.
“The government of Uganda is committed to bringing all Ugandans together, and soon we shall invite leaders from Ethiopia, Kenya, Teso, and Karamoja who all speak one language to come together,” Mutuzo added.
She said that the event will be characterized by dialogue to maintain peace in the region, different games, park rides, storytelling, plenty of food, beverages, and refreshments, music, dance, and drama, and many other activities.
Revellers can also visit tourism center’s in Kidepo National Park, which is just 5 km away from the venue.
According to Chero Emmanuel, a resident of Moroto district, the Karamoja Cultural Festival is not just for the people of Karamoja but for all those willing to celebrate diversity.
“The event will bring people from all nine districts of Moroto, Abim, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk, Amudat, Kotido, Kaabong, Napak, and Karenga. It will also draw people from Teso, Lango, Turkana, South Sudan, and parts of Ethiopia who share similar historical backgrounds as Ateker people with rich cultures,” Chero said.
The Karamoja cultural festival is organized by the Karamoja cultural association in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiques, the Uganda Tourism Board, and the Uganda Wild Life Authority.
The event that attracts more than 15,000 people from all over the country and neighboring countries is an annual event and is hosted on a rotational basis.
At the festival, many people from Karamoja region are expected to exhibit their food, their culture, their way of life, and all that is unique about the people of Karamoja.
The chief guest at the 2024 Karamoja cultural festival will be the president of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and the government has already sponsored the event with over Ugx 200 million.
