On September 5, 2024, during the Elders Forum meeting of the Karamoja region, elders emphasized the critical role they play in fostering peace and development.
They urged the Ugandan government to recognize and support their contributions through financial assistance.
A primary request from the elders is for a bus to facilitate district and sub-county visits. This transport means would enable them to engage more effectively with youth and community members across Karamoja, advocating for peace and development and discouraging raiding and conflict.
Speaking to Jackson Anyela, one of the elders from Moroto District, he acknowledged the support from President Museveni’s government but stressed the need for more comprehensive assistance.
He noted that while minerals contribute to the national economy, the Karamoja Region has not seen proportional benefits.
The Elders appreciated the NRM Government as the first government to ensure that people of Karamoja own at least 54.6% of the land.
Anyela called for enhanced land utilization and development initiatives, urging the government to address issues such as illegal gun possession among youth and to implement projects that engage and occupy the local population.
In their resolutions, the elders pledged to use their traditional practices and knowledge to manage resources and maintain peace among cross-border communities.
They committed to organizing dialogues with Kraal leaders and promoting peaceful resource sharing agreements. They also emphasized the importance of supporting wildlife mobility and assisting the Uganda Wildlife Authority in combating poaching.
The Elders handed over the resolutions to Hon. Dr. Peace Mutuuzo, the Minister of State for Gender and Culture, who committed to hand them to President Museveni on September 7, 2024, at the closure of the festival.
According to Anyela, the elders expressed several specific requests for government action. They asked that resource sharing agreements with neighboring countries respect customary practices and that the status of Executive Order No. 3 be clarified in light of recent agreements.
They also called for compensation for wildlife-related losses and the introduction of collaborative wildlife management between local communities and the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Additionally, they urged the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development to de-gazette animal corridors for human use and to integrate traditional and modern justice systems in Karamoja.
They requested that the government apply the Mining and Minerals Act of 2022 to ensure fair compensation for landowners and that alternative basic education programs be reintroduced in the region.
Elder Anyela appreciated the introduction of the Karamoja Cultural Event, and said as elders, they request the inclusion of the Karamoja Cultural Convention in the national budget to support cultural preservation and development.
The Chairperson of the Central Organizing Committee of the Forum, Felix Mark Lochaale, highlighted that those resolutions from various groups would be tailored for implementation by different bodies.
