Residents Suspend Use of Oxen for Ploughing Over Insecurity

The fear of attacks by warriors hunting for cattle has forced residents of Napak district to halt the use of ox-ploughs to open their farmland. Currently, all the cattle are kept in protected kraals and only released during the day for grazing, and returned in the evening when the army takes responsibility for keeping.

John Lowal, a resident of Kangole, says that their cattle are only secure in the protected kraals and the community is scared of releasing oxen for ploughing for fear of falling victims to rustlers. Lowal says that the raiders have a tendency of ambushing communities while they are in their gardens and take away their animals.

He notes that the situation mostly affects poor people who cannot afford to hire a tractor for cultivation, which might push many families into extreme hunger if not handled well. Isaac Lomuria, the LC III chairperson of Iriiri sub-county, says that currently, it’s only those who can afford to hire tractors that are cultivating their farmland while others are struggling with hand hoes.

Lomuria says the warriors have been monitoring the residents in their gardens to know if they are cultivating using the oxen so that they can raid. 

//Cue in: ‘’they are fearing that may be’’

Cue out:....you lose it, they will grab from you,"//

Peter Sagal Loporon, the LC V Councilor of Lotome sub-county noted that his sub-county is the most affected because they border two hostile communities, adding that they have lost so many animals to warriors.

//Cue in ‘’Lotome is one of the affected...

Cue out:....the same night it will be taken,"//

John Paul Kodet, the LC V chairperson of Napak district, says that they have requested the security to allow the oxen to be protected near the villages so that the community can use them for ploughing.

//Cue in" The situation as we started......’

Cue out:.....use these oxen for ploughing,’’//

However, John Ogwel, the LC3 chairperson of Nabwal sub-county says that the attacks by the warriors have reduced following the military deployment in the community. Ogwel said the presence of security teams has helped them a lot because whenever the raiders try to attack, the forces repulse them.

He notes that the warriors have shifted their attacks to the neighboring district of Katakwi where they know there is limited security deployment. He revealed that people are cultivating their farmland despite fear among some of the community members.

//Cue in ‘’there were some few attempts’’

Cue out:....are now resorting to going to katakwi,’’//

Micheal Longole, the Mt. Moroto Region Police spokesperson, said that they are aware of the situation in Napak but described it as an isolated case. He, however, said that they have heightened their cordon and search operations to dig out the wrong elements in society.