SUMMARY
The Bokora are a traditionally agropastoralist people that belong to the larger Karimojong group, inhabiting the area that is generally known as Karamoja, on the north-eastern tip of Uganda.
The Karimojong are part of an ethnic group referred to as ‘Plains Nilotes’, which spread from the lake Turkana area in Kenya in three directions: one into Kenya and Tanzania, (including the Massai); one to what is now southern Sudan; and one into Uganda (aside from the Karimojong also including the Iteso, Jie, Dodoth, and Turkana). The Karimojong group is in turn divided into three distinct sub-groups; the Bokora, Pian and Matheniko. Whereas these three sub-groups historically shared an overarching Karimojong identity, most analysts agree that this has now been completely eroded. Instead, present-day relationships between the three sub-groups is oftentimes characterised by fierce inter-group conflict and competition over the same water and forage resources.
Karamoja region is divided into two administrative districts – Kotido to the north and Moroto to the south – with the Bokora mainly located in the central part of the latter. The area, which is comprised of predominantly semiarid thorn savannah, is often described as one of the most inhospitable zones in Africa. Rainfall is erratic and the area suffers frequent draughts. In this context migratory livestock herding has proven to be the most sustainable way of life. The Bokora rely on agropastoralism for their survival, which entails livestock herding accompanied by cyclical migrations of people and animal, supplemented by settled agricultural cultivation. Migration is a key component in this livelihood as it allows for the movement of herds between pasture areas in response to environmental pressures.
The Bokora group was severely hit by droughts in the mid-1970s and early 1980s. The losses suffered accompanied by raiding by the Matheniko, pushed large numbers of the Bokora to seek help from NGOs and missionaries who offered famine relief and food-for-work, or to migrate to other districts. This, in turn, meant that a good number of Bokora eventually came into contact with formal education and became part of the national economy and power structures. Thus, part of the Bokora group is today employed by government and non-government agencies in Karamoja.
Relations between the Bokora and neighbouring groups tend to change swiftly. Peaceful relationships, expressed by intermarriage and joint cattle-camp movements, can rapidly be transformed into conflictual interactions, almost always defined by cattle-rustling and at times straight out warfare. Today most agropastoralist in the area have access to automatic weapons, which makes present-day rustling an exceedingly bloody affair.
The Bokora have been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence
