Karamoja's environment being destroyed as reformed warriors turn to charcoal burning

According to several reports, the reformed rustlers are cutting down trees at will to pave way for the charcoal burning business, especially after failing to get government support to improve their livelihoods.

The most affected districts in this new surge of economic activity are Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk, and Napak districts, which enjoy relative peace. Some of the reformed rustler say charcoal burning is the only option for them to make ends meet.

Mark Akorio, a reformed warrior and resident of Lomerimo village in Ngoleriet sub-county in Napak district, says most of the projects the government promised to avail the ex-warriors have never come to fruition.

“We have families, and sitting just at home without having anything for the kids to eat is hard. It is better to burn charcoal and sell it for buying posho and beans for the children to eat,” he said.

High unemployment

“In fact, although reformed rustlers are on top of tree cutting even some educated youth who have failed to get jobs are also burning charcoal for survival,” said Napak district Chairperson John Paul Kodet who adds that the high rate of unemployed youths in the region is compounding pre-existing problems with existing ones.

Nakapiripirit District Chairperson John Nangiro says Karamoja can only be saved if government cajoles foreign and domestic investors to set up factories in the sub-region and thereby create employment for the youth.

“The minerals that we have in Karamoja would create jobs for everyone if these investors could stop transporting raw materials from Karamoja to process in other regions,” Nangiro said.

He added that despite the government’s intervention to connect the region to the high-voltage power line for the establishment of industries, the line is not being used.