Kidnapped by the Karamojong

By Nathan Etengu in north-east Uganda

Justin Icila was only seven when he was kidnapped by Karamojong warriors during a raid on his village in the Teso region of eastern Uganda.

Thanks to the sharp eyes of a woman from his home area, he escaped and was reunited with his parents and younger sister some 15 years later.

The Karamojong are nomadic cattle herders, and are often on the move looking for food for their animals.

During his time with his captors, Justin spent much of his time in grazing areas looking after goats, sheep and cattle. Similar markings

But he said they never allowed him to go in the direction of his home area, instead preferring him to take herds to different parts of the Karamoja Region.

He did not know at the time, but on the occasion of his escape they were close to the Karamoja border with Teso, Justin's birthplace.

The army are being tasked with disarming the Karamojong

And fortunately for him a local woman saw that he had the same tribal markings as she did on his ear.

Markings that were not from the Karamojong.

Justin, who has completely forgotten his mother tongue, told me in an interview that all he could remember was the name of his mother.

But that was enough for him to be reunited with his family.

He said that when he was abducted he was in primary three - so in effect he missed out on almost all his education.

His sister, who was just a baby when he was kidnapped, is now in senior school.

Blood and milk

Justin said that while herding cattle, he never ate solid food but was instead fed on milk mixed with blood drained from the cattle.

The only time he ate meat was when a cow died.

He did suffer stomach complications during the first three weeks he was in captivity and then again after he escaped getting used to solid foods again.

But Justin told me he had never suffered any other ailments and was never treated with any modern medicines whilst with the Karamojong.

He said they hardly ever fell sick, particularly those who stay on the plains looking after cattle.

The government have announced plans to start disarming the Karamojong.