July 30, 2007: Uganda is
having another bout of "sand versus the sown" ethnic warfare. The pastoralist
Balaalo tribe have clashed with the Bagungu, who are farmers. Earlier this
summer the Balaalo began moving their cattle to new pasturage and the movement
crossed Bagungu farmland in Uganda's Buliisa district. The Bagungu accused the
Balaalo of "trampling" their property. The Bagungu also told government leaders
that their tribe has "lost confidence" in the Ugandan government's ability to
protect them and their farms. One reason was a decision by a Ugandan court which
ruled that the government could not immediately evict the Balaalo from Buliisa
land. A Ugandan government official reported that the Bagungu were planning on
attacking the Balaalo. President Yoweri Museveni then personally intervened to
stop the violence. While the politics are complicated, Museveni appeared to
back the Bagungus' damage claims. Tensions continue, but the last thing Uganda
needs is another tribal conflict.
July 25, 2007: The rebel
LRA (Lords Resistance Army) claimed that it needs an infusion of money in order
to continue to participate in the on-going peace talks in Juba, Sudan. More
delay tactics or a shakedown? Possibly. However, the LRA may have a legitimate
case. The LRA statement said that it needs the money to pay for travel by LRA
leaders. It also needs cash to fund other diplomatic activities involving
"reconciliation" in northern Uganda. The LRA is also fighting the International
Criminal Court's indictments of its senior leadership. That requires lawyers.
July 24, 2007: The Army said that a captain was killed in an
ambush conducted by Karamojong tribesmen. Two soldiers were also wounded. The
Ugandan force (part of the Army's 19th Battalion) reported it was chasing a
"gang" that was planing a raid into Kenya. Most likely the raiders were going
to steal cattle. Kenya has been reporting theft and assaults by raiders
crossing the Uganda-Kenya border. Kenya and Uganda have both traded allegations
about these attacks. Uganda claimed it arrested a Kenya security guard who was
involved in a theft in Uganda. Kenya has said that the Ugandan Army has crossed
the border into Kenya and that within the last month, rogue Ugandan soldiers
had robbed a Kenya business. It is possible that Ugandan soldiers have chased
cattle thieves cross the border.
July 19, 2007: The Karamojong disarmament campaign and weapons
turn-in program has had some significant effects on the cost of weapons. The
cost of an AK-47 has quadrupled since May 2006. Back then, you could buy an
AK-47 in Karamojong land for $180-200. The going price now is around $750 (or
1.2 million Ugandan shillings). The price of ammunition has also increased. Why
is this good news? It makes mayhem more expensive. When the Karamojong were
rustling with spears, that was one kind of problem. Spears are deadly but they
don't kill like automatic weapons.
