Ridding the Karamojong of guns

By Anna Borzello in Kampala

A seven-month process to disarm the Karamojong of some 20,000 weapons began at the weekend, after a six-month delay.

The government plans to take away the guns of the Karamojong cattle keepers who live in remote north-eastern districts of Moroto and Kotido.

The Karamojong have been armed for the past 20 years and use the guns in interclan and cross border cattle rustling raids, but the government has finally had enough.

The cow is at the centre of the Karamojong value system, and cattle rustling is a way of life, particularly for men who need the animals for dowry.

Gun culture

Until now, government has allowed the Karmojong to keep their weapons - mainly because they are at risk - from armed pastoralists in neighbouring Sudan and Kenya.

The army have a tough task ahead

However, President Museveni changed his mind last year after cattle rustling escalated into raids, which left 500 people dead.

The final nail in the coffin came when Karamojong migrated into neighbouring districts - displacing thousands of people and stealing cattle.

Army Commander in the Eastern region, Colonel Geoffrey Taban, told me the disarmament excercise was going ahead according to plan.

Five extra batallions are being deployed in Karamoja.

The soldiers will be spread over 39 sub-counties, where they will await the handing in of an estimated 20,000 weapons.

In the final stage of the three-part, seven-month programme, the army will form search teams - to ferret out any guns which are still in the Karamojongs' possession.

Many Karamojong don't like the effect guns have on their lives.

That does not mean, however, that they are willing to give up their weapons.

Risk

The Karamojong believe they are at threat from their neighbours, in particular the Turkana of Kenya who are not being disarmed.

The military says it will police the borders to prevent Turkana attacks.

But few Karamojong believe the army has the capacity to stop the raiders.

If that is the case they are unlikely to hand in their weapons, which could mean trouble ahead for the disarmament excercise.