30 Karimojongs trained as animal health workers

A total of 30 Karimojong men and women who completed a two weeks training as community animal health workers were on Friday passed out in Moroto district.

The training was conducted by the US veterinary soldiers in conjunction with the Makerere University Faculty of Veterinary medicine and the UPDF under the Ministry of defence.

Moroto district veterinary officer Dr. Walter Orongo said the trainees were randomly picked from Matheniko and Bokora counties in Moroto district by a team of district health officials, the UPDF and the US army.

Mr. Orongo said the training which will spread to all districts of Karamoja is aimed at equipping the pastoralists with basic knowledge on animal health so as to increase production and value.

“This training involves teaching the team how to inject animals, how to measure animal weight, hoof cutting and how to identify disease infections” he said.

The pastoralist were also given veterinary kits like syringes, gumboots, hoof cutters, weight measuring devices and animal drugs for various infections.

Mr. Orongo identified common animal diseases among Karimojong pastoralists as tick-bone diseases, warm infections, and animal pneumonia among others.

“Foot rot in goats and sheep is also common in the region especially during rainy season. Anthrax which spreads to humans is also experienced during raids among the Karimojong communities” Mr. Orongo explained.

UPDF Civil military coordinator for Karamoja Maj. Twerikeire Kamulali said the training is also meant to strengthen the relationship between the civilian population in the region and the army under the joint civil military cooperation. Mr. Kamulali also said the training will commit the pastoralists to cattle keeping and discourage cattle rustling.

“The purpose of this training is cooperation and development. It is a paradigm shift from cattle rustling to cattle keeping” he said.
He added that the life of a Karimojong is incomplete without a cow, saying the pastoralists can only develop with the presence of a healthy cow, and that a healthy cow needs to stay in a peaceful environment.

“You are not only heath workers, but peace builders. The Americans are here because Africa’s problem is an American problem, the UPDF is here because the problem of Karamoja is a Ugandan problem and the problem of the Matheniko also remains that of the Bokora” he told graduates.

The US army team leader in Karamoja Capt. Nathan Heller who presided over the function said “Our mission is to assess the UPDF and other civil organizations in this region, and to assist them with various projects relevant to this community in form of joint civil military training to enable peace and stability in Karamoja.”

Mr. Heller said the US veterinary team had treated up to 5000 herds of cattle in the region and accomplished security fencing at Kotido SS.