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Drought, banditry threaten stability in Uganda’s Karamoja region - IRC

Karamojong families traditionally live in clusters of huts called manyattas, Karamoja, Uganda. Glenna Gordon/IRIN
    NAIROBI

    Violent conflicts and cattle rustling have reduced in Uganda’s northeastern Karamoja region, but severe drought and increased banditry are challenging the area’s fragile stability, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has warned in a new statement.



    "In the past, large-scale cattle-raiding has been part and parcel of the culture in Karamoja," IRC's conflict expert Abongi Patrick said in the statement. "Groups of 50 or more men would launch vicious attacks on rival clans, stealing thousands of heads of cattle and killing anyone who tried to stop them."



    Whilst such incidents have declined in recent years, petty theft has been on the rise in a region where there are very few employment opportunities and severe drought this year has left many short of food.



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    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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