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2015 Autumn GTM (SA)

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Laying a Secure<br />

Foundation in<br />

Karamoja<br />

Humans crave security in all areas of life, from<br />

finances to relationships to health. In many<br />

countries, numerous resources are available to aid<br />

individuals in the quest for a comfortable lifestyle.<br />

For the Karamojong tribes, located in Uganda’s<br />

northeast region, however, modern conveniences<br />

and comforts do nothing for the insecurity with<br />

which they are plagued.<br />

The Feinstein International Centre conducted a<br />

study in the Karamoja region to help understand<br />

the manifestations and sources of this wide-spread<br />

insecurity. The study concluded that a number<br />

of factors contribute to the high stress levels in<br />

Karamoja. Armed livestock raids along with smaller<br />

scale livestock thefts, destruction of property,<br />

personal injury, death, sexual assault and revenge<br />

attacks were found to cause continuous devastation<br />

for families in the region.<br />

In the same study, a group of women from the<br />

Matheniko community expressed their thoughts:<br />

“In the past, we had days of much sorghum. We<br />

had peace. We could move around in this area. We<br />

had animals at home. The insecurity, now, is spoiling<br />

everything. We could deal with the famine if it<br />

weren’t for the insecurity.”<br />

<strong>2015</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong>/Winter<br />

29

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