By Olandason Wanyama
Efforts to pacify Karamoja are beginning to yield fruit, particularly for cattle herders.
Contrary to the bloody situation witnessed over the past five years, the prevailing relative peace has led to a rise in demand for cattle in the sub-region, with prices soaring by the day.
A survey in Nadunget Market in Moroto district indicates that a mature bull now goes for sh2.2m, up from sh1.8m in the past few weeks.
Other medium-sized cattle are being sold for between sh950,000 and sh1.7m, whereas a mature sheep and goat cost sh250,000 and sh300,000 respectively.
Donkeys cost a whopping sh700,000, up from sh280,000 last June.
Moroto LC5 chairperson David Koriang said it is an exciting time for the residents who are now benefiting from the relative peace in Karamoja.
He also said for years, the situation was chaotic and no one knew the status of animals they were buying since some traders dealt in stolen cattle.
“This is what we expect when people have peace. When a family sells a bull or a cow, they are sure of survival,” Koriang said.
He applauded the security forces for working tirelessly to curb violence that had taken over the entire Karamoja Koriang, however, attributed the reduction in the supply of animals to the market due to the Parish Development Model (PDM), a government strategy aimed at fighting poverty among Ugandans.
“People now have money. When Karimojong have money, they cannot sell off their animals. The Government’s interventions such as the Youth Livelihood Programme and Emyooga have also contributed towards the wellbeing of the community,” he said.
Koriang urged the residents to report offenders to relevant authorities for sustainable peace in the sub-region.
Traders speak out
Genesis Byarufu from Katakwi district said the prices have gone up because there are very few animals in the market.
“We are scrambling for the few animals in the market. The reduction in the number of livestock on the market remains a mystery,” he said.
Christopher Nkulete, a trader from Budaka district, said the high cattle prices could force them out of business.
“Prices for animals have reached exorbitant levels,” he said, adding that a 100kg animal goes for sh1.3m, in addition to the transport fare.
Judith Nakaugulu, another cattle trader, said she has been operating in losses for the past weeks. She wants a kilogramme of beef raised to sh15,000 from the current sh12,000.
“I have decided to invest in goats and sheep this time around,” Nakaugulu said.
The chairperson of Moroto Abattoir Slaughter Group, Dominic Lokiru, acknowledged the boom in the cattle trade, but called on the Karimojong to diversify their incomes so as to fight poverty sustainably.
PHOTO CAPTION: This photo taken on October 6 shows cattle that cost between sh650,000 and sh800,000 at Nadunget market in Moroto. Photo by Olandason Wanyama
