By KT Reporter
The Pokot communities in the Amudat district have reinforced their culture as a tool to conserve the environment.
Unlike other districts, where the economic pressure and high poverty rates have forced the communities to massively cut down the trees for charcoal burning and firewood for sale.
The Pokot traditional norms have played a crucial role in maintaining the forestry cover. According to the Pokot taboo, anyone who cuts down the tree illegally shall pay a black bull or a goat, depending on the type of tree. The animal will be slaughtered by the elders for performing rituals aimed at cleansing to avoid curses and disasters.
The district is largely covered by scrubs and thickets, where the cultural taboos have significantly helped to maintain the biodiversity.
Dorcus Chalein, the councillor representing persons with disability in Amudat district, said that the trees are believed to be a home of the ancestors, while others are medicinal.
Chalein said that there are special trees that are preserved for medicinal purposes, while others act as food preservatives.
Chalein noted that the trees locally known as Iwut can preserve bongo milk for over two years without getting spoiled. She explained that the tree is burnt into charcoal and dropped into the milk, where it stays for the entire period without getting spoiled.
Chalein noted that such kinds of trees have been jealously protected, and anyone found cutting them down will face heavy punishment from the elders.
Rev Canon Jane Chorey, a cultural leader of the Pokot community, observed that the Pokot community has quite many traditional taboos that are different from the Karamojong culture.
Unlike in the Karamojong community, where children hawk charcoal and firewood in the town, Chorey noted that Pokot children are only given milk to move around to sell.
Chorey said that Pokot initially feared carrying charcoal and firewood around town because it had never been part of their livelihood. She added that they only burn charcoal for home use, and it has to be minimal and upon request from the area leadership.
Chorey revealed that there are some Pokot who are learning how to burn charcoal, and they are being influenced by the other communities.
Peninah Cheruto, the LCV vice chairperson of Amudat district, said that they also enacted the bylaws that helped to back up the cultural taboos on the protection of trees.
Cheruto noted that they worked with village leadership structures and the Para-social workers to implement the bylaws. She explained that anyone who seeks to clear the garden or cut the tree for construction has to pick the clearance letter from the village chairperson, who will authorise the actions upon request.
Cheruto also reiterated that whoever is found cutting down the trees illegally is tasked to pay a black bull or a male goat that will be slaughtered to please the gods of the trees. She noted that they traditionally believe that the trees belong to the gods and whoever annoys them by cutting down the trees will attract curses and catastrophes in the community.
About 500 acres of trees are cut down every year due to human activities across the Karamoja sub-region, an issue that puts the region at high risk of climate change. The most affected districts include Moroto, Kotido, Napak, Abim and Kaabong.
The activities range from charcoal burning being the lead cause, woods for the construction of houses, security detachments and traditional fences for protection in the Karamojong Manyattas.
The rampant destruction of trees is attributed to the high poverty levels in the households and the lack of other alternative income-generating activities.
Meanwhile, several districts have put in more effort to conserve trees by passing ordinances, which have not worked until recently, when President Yoweri Museveni made an executive order 3 to stop the burning and transportation of charcoal in the northern districts of Uganda-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
