The Return of Turkana Cattle that were Confiscated

Transcription

1 The Return of Turkana Cattle that were Confiscated OR THE C ME F ON AM TR OL GR RO O P Dr. Darlington Akabwai M PA N EP IZ OO TIE S PAN A S OTIC IZO FR IC EP AN F AM GR PRO E PACE AF RI C AIN DE CONTRO LE S DE

2 THE RETURN OF TURKANA CATTLE THAT WERE CONFISCATED ON THE 28 FEBRUARY, 2002 by Dr. Darlington Akabwai Produced by Community-based Animal Health and Epidemiology (CAPE) Unit Pan African Programme for the Control of Epizootics (PACE) Organization of African Unity/Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (OAU/IBAR) 1

3 Introduction On 28 February 2002, soldiers from the Ugandan People s Defence Forces (UPDF) captured three Turkana women at Oropoi-Nawonitos along the Kenya-Uganda border. They also confiscated a gun and rounded up livestock from the kraal, taking the seizure to Moroto District in Uganda. The cause of the dramatic action by the UPDF soldiers was the entrance of Turkana pastoralist from Kenya into Uganda with unlicensed firearms, contravening the laws of Ugandan Karamoja region disarmament programme. After negotiations, representatives of the Ugandan Government released the three women to Hon. John Munyes, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Turkana North in Kenya. However, the cows remained under the custody of UPDF for release at a later date. The reason behind the prompt release of the women was the visit by Hon. Munyes to Kampala. He paid a courtesy call to the Kenyan High Commission and briefed the staff on the purpose of his mission. He later held a meeting with Hon. Peter Lokeris, the Minister of State for Karamajong Affairs in Uganda and apologised, on behalf of his people, for trespassing into Uganda with illegal arms. He requested the Ugandan government to forgive them and release the woman and the animals. After long discussions, Hon. Lokeris accepted the proposal. Hon. Munyes was allowed to meet the women in Moroto District instead of Kampala as previously planned because the women would not withstand the colder climate of Kampala after living in the hot and dry conditions of Turkana District. The animals, however, were to be returned to the location of the capture. The transaction to hand over the animals was scheduled for 18 March This report describes the events that unfolded. 2

4 The transaction 3

5 On 18 March, early in the morning, anxious livestock owners gathered at the venue of the meeting to receive their animals. Hon. John Munyes arrived for the meeting in the company of Lt. Col. Sula Semankula, the military officer from Karamoja District in Uganda. Mr. David Oyoo, the District Commissioner (DC) for Turkana was at hand to receive the animals but the ceremony aborted because the herd had not arrived from Sidok Dam in Kaboong County, Uganda. Semankula explained that the delay, by one day, was due to a slow start in herding the animals down the escarpment. The MP and the DC took the opportunity to thank the livestock owners for their patience and the non-retaliatory approach that they embraced. Please maintain the spirit so that we do not complicate matters further, advised Oyoo. however, complained that not all the animals were recovered, blaming the Dodoth in Uganda for taking advantage of the incident with UPDF to steal their animals. All in all, the Turkana people were happy because, for the first time in history, such large numbers of animals had been recovered. They expressed gratitude to the Ugandan and Kenyan governments and applauded the cooperation that has enabled them to get back their animals. They praised Hon. Munyes for a job well done. However, they are wary of the Ugandan border and they insist that the UPDF attacked them on the Kenyan side and not inside Uganda borders, as the soldiers claim. The following morning, on 19 March, the livestock owners gathered at the foot of the escarpment to wait for their animals but the DC was not with them because he had other official commitments. The animals, yet again, failed to descend. Hon. Munyes, Senior Chief Lobuin from Kalobeye Location of Turkana District, and Darlington Akabwai from the Community-based Animal Health and Participatory Epidemiology Unit (CAPE) of the OAU/ IBAR were obliged to scale the escarpment to Kamion Village in Kalapata Sub-county in search of the herds. The Ugandan administrators and military officials released the animals to them in the evening of the same day but they could not travel back to Nawanitos until following morning. John Menjo, the District Officer for Kakuma Divison, flanked by a big crowd of apprehensive livestock owners met them. They counted the animals and confirmed the numbers as 37 donkeys and 504 cows. During the first count at Kamion, the Turkana expected 563 cows but only 519 heads were handed over to them. The soldiers explained that some calves were fatigued and one lot was left at Sidok Dam in Kaboong and the second lot between Kaabong and Kamion. They promised to pass on all the surviving calves to the local administration, who would release them to the Turkana owners. The numbers of cows had reduced to 504. The party that went up to Kamion explained that the first head count was conducted at night giving room for error. The Turkana livestock owners, 4

6 Conclusion Crises will continue to occur if the laws of Uganda and Kenya on illegal firearms are not similar. Kenya, Uganda and Sudan should embrace the Ugandan example of the pastoralist disarmament programme if lasting peace and development is to be realised in the region. Borders are alien to nomadic pastoralists and they do not recognise restrictive boundaries. They should be sensitised to seek grazing rights before moving to neighbouring countries in search of pasture and water. The clearance will protect them from a host of problems, such as insecurity and harassment for breaking the laws. Acknowledgments The two events, the handing over of the women and the releasing of the animals, would not have happened without the support of the following people and organizations. > The District Veterinary Officer, Turkana, for the use of his vehicle > OXFAM office in Lodwar for fuel and a vehicle > CAPE Unit for the financial support 5

7 Appendix I THE RETURN OF TURKANA CATTLE THAT WERE CONFISCATED Itinerary for Hon. Munyes Visit to Uganda Hon. John Munyes travels by road to Kampala, Uganda Meeting with the Kenya High Commission in Uganda and Connel Sula Semankula and Hon. Peter Lokeris, the Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs, Uganda Journey to Moroto District in Uganda Meeting with army officers, POKATUSA Travel through Kotido and held discussions with the Resident District Commissioner, Locational Councillor V, and Brigade Commander, Kotido District then team moves to the Nowanitos Border point Hon. John Munyes, Dr. D. Akabwai and Senior Chief Lobuin climb the escarpment to collect cattle The animals are herded down the escarpment Handing over the animals to their owners at Oropoi 6