UGANDA

COMPENDIUM OF CONFLICTS IN UGANDA
of weapons was the Moroto
barracks, which the fleeing dictator
abandoned intact, allowing the
Karimojong to help themselves to
the substantial quantities of small
arms and ammunition stocked
there. An eyewitness reported
having seen large numbers of small
arms and ammunition being loaded
onto scores of donkeys that then
trekked up to the top of Mount
Moroto. This was followed by
rigorous training on the mountain
slopes in preparation for defence
and cattle raids. 287
KARAMOJA
Post-Colonial/Present
51. The Dress Code Conflict
(Amin vs. Karimojong)
(1972)
In the name of ‘civilisation’, Idi
Amin’s Government in 1972
ordered all Karimojong to abandon
traditional Karimojong wear in favour of clothing that was considered more ‘decent’. The
local communities immediately rejected this directive, but Amin’s forces quickly adopted
various inhumane methods of enforcing the decree. One participant remarked,
“Whoever was found putting on slippers made of vehicle
tyres would be made to chew it”. 288
An eyewitness recounted an incident in Kangole in 1972 in which a number of Karimojong
were mobilised for a rally at which they were told that a Governor would address them.
When they assembled, most of them were naked. An army officer issued an order to the
effect that the crowd be cordoned off and shot, which was followed. This incident has
gone down in Karimojong history as the notorious “Kangole Massacre”. 289
287 This eye witness account was given to NRTJ Audit researchers in Kampala after the completion of the
field work for the NRTJ Audit
288 Research conducted in Nakapiripirit District
289 Supra note 67
132