Mineral-rich communities need to detribalise their God-given wealth

On March 21 three geologists plus two military guards were shot dead by so-called cattle rustlers in Moroto district of Uganda’s northeastern region of Karamoja, where they had gone to pick some rock samples. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces vowed to teach the Karamajong rustlers a lesson.

But some Karamojong leaders cynically and publicly scoffed back saying the government is taking the matter seriously because the victims this time were from other tribes, not Karamojong. For the rustlers have killed hundreds of Karimojong human beings.