I left for a seven week visit to Uganda at the start of April, initially spending a few days in Kampala with Tamsin’s cousin and family. Travelling north I picked up the sense of frustration of the people towards Museveni’s government in terms of a lack of commitment to the people of Northern Uganda to do what is necessary for peace, security, relief and development.
I eventually reached Iriiri which is a small village trading centre near the Karamoja-Teso border where most of the team are currently staying in temporary accomodation (two of the team are living at the north end of the border in the new base at Okoboi).
Meeting with villagers who are currently living in internally displaced people (IDP) camps to see how CHIPS can support them in returning to their land in Okoboi to cultivate and rebuild
It was wonderful to spend time with the team and they looked after me well, treating me to eggs and fruit when they saw me struggling with posho and beans. I spent a lot of time travelling; seeing all the previous CHIPS bases, exploring the border road, seeing the active aspects of the project and having meetings with religious and political leaders.
There seems to be a real sense of gratitude for the commitment and work of the CHIPS team over the last 15 years from leaders and also from the local people. There was also strong support for the current strategy of resettling the no-mans land between the two tribes to encourage positive interaction, friendship and trade.
The present security situation is poor and very complex. The Karimojong continue to regularly raid for cattle both from Teso and from rival clans. The government has begun a new integrated disarmament and development initiative recently. On paper the strategy is quite well conceived recognizing the need to support development in Karamoja alongside disarmament and to build on the existing way of life of pastoralism rather than trying to replace it. However in practice the UPDF and Arrow Boys (Teso Militia) take a very reactionary response to raiding which is deeply problematic in terms of increasing tension and hatred and fuelling the cycle of violence.
Karimojong boys with their cattle near Matany
However, the government have been supporting CHIPS in other ways, for instance in constructing the border road and also beginning to support re-settlement by encouraging people to leave the IDP (internally displaced people) camps. However it may still be some time before people have the confidence to resettle in large numbers.
In the face of the present situation the CHIPS team are impressively committed and fearless. The work continues regardless. John-Paul and Johnson travel with the kraals (the Karimojong herds and herdsmen) treating animals and training/supporting other paravets. Philbert and John are living at Okoboi to give resettlers confidence and offering agricultural support.
Peter and John continue to support local rehabilitation of small cattle dams. The current rate of borehole pump breakdown is very high and villagers often have to resort to dirty surface water sources for months at a time. CHIPS is responding with an initiative to equip and train local people in borehole maintenance which should benefit several thousand people by keeping boreholes operational throughout the year.
Caesar works tirelessly at Namendera in the tree nursery to provide roofing poles for resettlers (a sustainable alternative to deforestation), and vegetable and fruit seedlings to produce food for the hungry months.
John-Paul in the woodlot at Namendera
Robert and Ephraim provide the management and administrative support from Iriiri. While I was there we interviewed for three interns and an agriculturalist who all started work in May and Simon-Peter is back in the team taking a break from his studies.
Roy Calvocoressi (CHIPS founder and former Director) joined us for 10 days at the end of my time there to have an official hand over, to lead a weekend of bible study and training for the team and to say his goodbyes.
Sunset in Iriiri