According to activists, widow inheritance has forced many women into unwanted marriages with their late spouse's brothers or sons from another wife. The women are now demanding the right to choose their partners after their husband's death.
The Artisanal Miners who have been the main employers of children in the mines have agreed to join the fight against the exploitation of children and take them to school so that they have a better future. The miners formed a steering committee that oversees all the activities of the groups that are mining and protecting children from any form of abuse.
Kodoit explained that pregnant women who consume offals may experience
difficulties during labor, while children may develop inappropriate behaviors
like prostitution if they consume certain foods.
According to Elders, those who disobey the taboos will suffer consequences ranging from sickness, failure to produce, viginal discharge, miscarriages, and prostitution among others depending on what was consumed.
Before colonial times, the Karamojong had a system of regulating community rules led by the Council of Elders at the Akiriket. However, the powers of the traditional systems for regulating conflicts declined after the colonialists created a new structure of leadership that sidelined the elders.
Simon Nangiro, the Chairperson of the Karamoja Elders Association, emphasized that there is already a cultural system that should be strengthened to bring together all the different cultures in the region. He pointed out that having another parallel Elders' forum may lead to confusion.
Mark Aol Musoka, an elder appointed as the Minister for Peace and Security, notes that while the initiative was commendable, it was rushed and lacked comprehensive consultations. He expressed concerns that the institution's viability could be compromised due to this hurried decision-making process.
However, the initiative has met resistance from a section of Elders who have rejected the cultural institution, alleging that they need a lot of time to do consultations over the matter.
The Karamoja Cultural Leader, to be known as Papaa Angasuban was chosen by representatives of the Elders Council, drawn from districts across the region. Each District sent two representatives to the meeting in which 81-year-old Peter Adei from Abim district was named the Interim cultural leader.
Kotido District speaker Emmanuel Lodio said that they are advocating for compulsory education for all karimojong children for 15 years because the Alternative Basic Education for Karamoja will keep the region trapped backwards.
The traditional system which uses negotiation and compensation to resolve conflicts is chaired by the Elders councils. For instance, if it is a murder case, the perpetrator is tasked to pay 60 cows for killing a man and 120 cows for a woman or face the death penalty.
Menstrual cups are funnel shaped containers made from silicone, rubber or latex that gets tucked inside the vagina to collect menstrual flow. The reusable menstrual cups are washed and wiped clean before usage and can last for over 10 years with proper care.
Joyce Lomongin, a mother residing from Katikekile Sub County in Moroto district said that she has used her menstrual cup for seven years without changing and it is still working properly.
The vetting exercise is intended to validate the elders who were disqualified from SAGE program due to a mismatch of details on their National Identity Cards.
John Bosco Akore, the secretary for Kotido Elders Council, says that the elders have eliminated all the bad cultures that violate the rights of women, and formulated bylaws to protect women against any harm.
Akore explained that this would be the best time for Elders from different clusters within Karamoja to come together and explore possible solutions to some of the issues affecting the region but not to enjoy when their people are dying of starvation due to hunger.
According to Brig. Joseph Balikudembe the UPDF 3rd division commander, their intelligent officers have established that some of these shrines have nominated energetic youth to go for the sourcing of guns.
Mathew Dengel, one of the youth told URN that although it’s good to always use condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, the available brands are short and small for them.
