40 Notorious Cattle Rustlers Walk 79 Kms to Moroto to Ask for Forgiveness

A group of 40 notorious Karimojong cattle rustlers from Kotido district on Thursday morning surprised the leaders of the two districts of Moroto and Kotido when they walked 79 kilometers to Kobebe grazing area in Lotisan sub-county to ask Matheniko pastoralists for forgiveness.

Although the sub-county officials from Lotisan in Moroto welcomed the gesture of the warriors who moved alone without anyone telling them, John Robert Akiiki Adupa, the sub county chairperson of Lotisan described the warriors' as shocking and unbelievable.

"They came alone and pleaded with their brothers the Matheniko whom they have been raiding all along to forgive them, it is very strange," he said.

Adupa said there was no leader involved in the process, adding that it is the pastoralists themselves who met and resolve to stop fighting and killing each other. 

According to Adupa they have on several accasions been calling the two pastoralists communities to stop road ambushes and raids but they didn't heed, adding that if they have now come to stop fighting then Karamoja will be peaceful and develop.

The Jie in Kotido and the Matheniko in Moroto have not been seeing an eye, with both communities raiding each other viciously.

Mzee Lokut Losigiria, one of the elders who received the Jie, said there was no need for the Matheniko and Jie continuing to kill each other as they are all brothers and sisters. 

Gladly Nangiro, a peace activist said everything has a beginning and an end.

She said the two pastoralist community have realised that fighting among themselves was no longer viable.

David Koryang the district chairperson of Moroto said the peace among the communities is now stronger and lasting .

"All wrong things have been done by all sides so if all have now decided to stop it among themselves then we may register sustained peace rather than being persuaded by other persons who may not be knowing why the people were at war," he said. 

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