The Matheniko in Moroto district has returned twelve cows that were stolen in Kotido District.
The cows belonging to Teba Lokoli, a resident of Kotido district, were stolen on 14th October by suspected Matheniko raiders. They were later found in one of the kraals in Nadunget Sub-county Moroto district.
Simon Lotem, the LCIII Chairperson for Nadunget Sub-county says the warriors stole cows from the grazing area but when they returned home, the community noticed it and informed the owners in Kotido.
He says they met with a team from Kotido on Thursday at Kotaruk village in Nadunget sub-county where they handed over the stolen cattle to the rightful owners.
Lotem says that although the suspects have not been punished, their acceptance to surrender the stolen cows was a great achievement because they realized that the community is no longer supporting their actions.
‘’I advise my community that the whole region has accepted peace and we shall not accept a few wrong elements to threaten the peace that is gradually returning’’ Lotem said.
According to Lotem, they have also resolved that whoever is found harboring raiders or resisting handing back stolen animals will be harshly punished.
Emmanuel Lokii, the district councilor representing Rupa sub-county says this is a good gesture towards gaining peace in the region.
Lokii says the community resolved to return the animals following the reconciliatory talks between the Jie and Matheniko community that resulted in joint grazing. He said Jie and the Matheniko have sealed a peace deal and agreed never to return to revenge attacks.
John Bosco Akore, the Secretary Kotido Elder’s Council who led the team from Kotido to receive animals said this is the first time the community to disclose the stolen animals and return them back to their owners.
Akore noted that if the communities had started the initiative some time back by now there would be total peace in Karamoja.
‘’I’m happy that the cattle were returned and I thank the Matheniko community for showing us their commitment to peace’’ Akore said.
Akore added that cattle raids lasted long because the community could conceal the information about stolen animals kept in their homes. He said the rustlers are known from the community but they were not reported which kept the insecurity alive for a long.
According to Akore, the community was only reporting about their cows stolen by raiders and they don’t disclose the ones which have been stolen and brought to keep in their homes.
He said the handover of cows is an indication that they are now ready for peace and that is the best way of dealing with cattle thieves traditionally.
In August, the Matheniko of Moroto, Jie of Kotido, and the neighboring Turkana from Kenya resolved to establish a joint kraal as one way of ending the cyclic cattle raids. The Elders of the three rival pastoral communities resolved this during their meeting held at Kobebe grazing area in Moroto district. URN
