Livestock
traders in the Karamoja sub-region have asked the joint security forces to
revise the newly issued guidelines on the transportation of livestock.
Recently the security forces issued guidelines designating only two routes for
the cattle traders to transport livestock out of the region. This was intended
to curb the illegal cattle trade which has fueled attacks by cattle rustlers.
However, the traders and cattle owners have protested the move saying there is
a need to revise the guidelines because they cannot count losses over
insecurity. According to the traders, the designated routes are very insecure,
impassable, and costly which makes them incur losses.
Peter Sogol, the Chairperson of Kotido livestock traders said that the traders
are forced to abandon the business due to tight restrictions and high costs of
transport. He noted that transporting one bull costs between 180,000 Shillings
and 150,000 while goats and sheep cost 45,000 Shillings.
Sogol says the routes which have been designated are very insecure and these
put the lives of traders at high risk of being attacked by warriors.
Sam Musiwa and Simon Nangiro who also trade in cattle say that the designated
routes are marred with poor telecom networks which makes them prone to looting
by armed criminals.
VOXPOP
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Julius
Lemukol, a resident of Kidepo village in Lotisan Sub County said that security
forces should allow the traders to use the popular routes for transporting cows
but establish security checkpoints.
Lemukol
observed that traders have declined in the markets and yet this is the time
they need to sell off their cows to enable their children to go back to
school. He also noted that the high
restrictions have also made the traders buy livestock from them cheaply as
they may want to recover the money spent on transportation.
Tonny
Odongkara, the North Karamoja Animal Checkpoints Commander says that the routes
were generated in 2019 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries, and
fisheries but the security forces have not been enforcing them.
Odongkara
noted that their work as security is only to enforce the guidelines and there
is nothing much they can do to change the implementation work plan.
He however
called upon the traders to adhere to the new set of guidelines as they engage the
ministry for possible adjustments.
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Currently, the traders from the districts of Amudat, Nakapiripirit, and Kotido
will utilize the Moroto to Soroti Road, with a mandatory verification of cows
at the Nadunget checkpoint. On the other hand, districts such as Kaabong and
Karenga will use the road to the Kitgum district.
