Turkana, Kjong leaders blame Sudan

By Milton Olupot, New Vision

KAMPALA, Nov. 26, 2003 –Karimojong and Turkana leaders have blamed the persistent insecurity in the region on the long-standing conflict between the Sudanese government and the Sudanese people’s Liberation Army (SPLA).

The Ugandan and Kenyan lawmakers and administrators said this at a peace commemoration meeting held at Lokiriama, Turkana district in Kenya last week.

They noted that the existence of rebel groups and factions in the region, such as the LRA, have facilitated the spillover of arms into Karamoja.

The event was attended by Ugandan state minister for economic monitoring Omwony Ojok and the Kenyan assistant minister for water development, John Munyes.

A statement issued last week said the event referred to as “burying the hatchet” was last held on December 18, 1973 in the same village in Kenya.

The event marked 30 years of peaceful relations and military alliance between the two ethnic groups.

Munyes said the cross-border interaction had led to economic growth.