3,000 Turkana pastoralists cross to Karamoja

Kaabong- The persisting drought in northern Kenya has forced another group of Turkana pastoralists to cross with their hundreds of livestock in Kaabong District, Karamoja sub-region in north eastern Uganda.

According to Kaabong District authorities, 3,000 households of Turkana origin  entered Kaabong last Friday, bringing in a total of 8,000 Turkana pastoralists grazing in the district.

Mr Mark Abuku, the district chairperson, said the district received the first group of 2,000  Turkanas with their livestock last month.

He added that the district is currently stretched with an influx of different group of foreigners including South Sudanese who are fleeing war in their country.

He said the Turkana pastoralists are currently grazing in areas of Loyoro, Kamion and Kalapata sub-counties.

"Right now we have more than 8,000 Turkanas who have more than 95,000 livestock grazing in Kaabong," he said.

Mr Samson Lokeris the Member of Parliament for Dodoth East said the growing number of foreigners in the district call for urgent collaboration between Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan on resource sharing.

We already have 700 South Sudanese in Kaabong and we expect more foreigners especially the Turkana to come in because the drought is worse in their region than in Karamoja," he said.

Meanwhile, Kaabong Hospital is currently full of South Sudan nationals seeking medical services.

Dr John Bosco Lopoi the acting medical superintendent said many South Sudan nationals are suffering from various sicknesses.