The effects of Edonga are negatively experienced in the Lotome sub-county, where the community resolved to take the dance to the Lotome boys' primary school playground, which is surrounded by three other institutions. The village boys use the dance to attract the girls from the surrounding schools and whisk them off for marriage.
Charles Anyakun, the chairperson of the Karamoja Pensioners Association, recalled that the first Europeans' entry to Karamoja was in 1908 through the Napak district in the areas of Lotome and Kangole. The British, who were armed with guns, were confronted by the locals who fought them with spears.
John Mark Lokiru, an elder from Lotisan Sub County in Moroto District, stated that they have initiated sensitization campaigns to change the mindset of elders regarding these negative cultural norms. “We are the custodians of the culture, and we shall lead dialogues to sensitize communities and denounce these negative practices,” Lokiru explained.
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.
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.
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.
During the Karamoja Cultural Week event, elders from all nine districts across the region came together and agreed to abandon cattle rustling and advocate for better livelihood alternatives.
Dr Doreen Kobusingye, the co-principal investigator at LEMU says that it is never too late to organize the communities and empower them with legal approaches to protecting their land and avert those who seek to exploit people and their environment.
Mark Aol Musoka, an Elder in Acholi Inn ward in Moroto municipality, told URN that the government should consider changing the mindset of local leaders before rolling out to the population.
Simon Nangiro, the chairperson Karamoja Elders association says they have realized that food production is important and they need back their land since wildlife revenues do not benefit the community.
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.
