The annual Karamoja Cultural Event (KCE) which started on Monday, September 4, 2023, is set to cause a remarkable change in the life of Karamojongs in terms of unity, peace, tourism and development in the region.

According to Arukol Tebanyang, the Chief Publicity of KCE, the six day event was officially endorsed by President Museveni who was supposed to be represented by Raphael Magyezi, the Minister of Local Government who later delegated to Peter Aimat Lokeris, the Minister of Minerals.

He confirmed that, the event under the theme ‘Celebrating Diversity, Resilience and Peace Building’ is ongoing in Napak district with the main event held at St. Daniel Comboni Senior Secondary School and will end on September 9, 2023.

However, other side events will be held at other locations within Napak district, including River Lokichar Wildlife Conservancy in Lopei, Mountain climbing at Napak Hills, Touring Mass Graves at Ngoleriet, among others.

In a phone call interview with Nexus Media, Tebanyang revealed that the cultural event is not only beneficial to the people in the North but also their neighbors in the Eastern part of Uganda, West Pokot and Turkana of Kenya, among others.

“The Event will bring people from all the nine districts of Moroto, Abim, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk, Amudat, Kotido, Kaabong, Karenga and Napak itself. It will also draw people from Teso, Lango, Turkana, South Sudan and parts of Ethiopia who share similar historical backgrounds as Ateker where there will be unveiling of beautiful and rich culture, beautiful scenery and minerals, among others. This event will also be unique as it plans to integrate the Ateker Peace Caravan 2023,” Tebanyang said.

Tebanyang further revealed that the event aims at promoting and strengthening the role of women and youths in peace building, cultural heritage, family and socioeconomic transformation of Karamoja region and amplifying voices from the ground for a dynamic, resilient and transforming society, devoid of violence and other harmful practices, among others.

He also asked the government to take a central position in funding the event since it survives on handouts of the locals, citing the elders who offered 30 bulls worth Ugx 30million. He however assured the participants of security revealing that 500 soldiers have been deployed within and around the district to provide security.

Background of KCA

Karamoja Cultural Association (KCA) organizes the annual Karamoja Cultural Festival that brings together all communities in the Ateker cluster.

In July 2014, the Karamoja Cultural Association conceived and rolled out the Karamoja Cultural Events in an event held in Moroto Municipality.

The event then got rolled out to seven different districts of Karamoja, each hosting in turns, from Moroto to Kotido, Nakapiripirit, Kaabong, Amudat, Abim and next will be Napak.

The event that gathers about 10,000 people and lasts for about three to five days, is usually hosted in one district on a rotational basis. In doing so, KCA works in close collaboration with the host district local government and committees.

On Saturday, September 3, 2022, during the KCE event in Abim district, the mantle to host the 2023 event was handed over to Napak district.