Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo Chigamoi has pointed to extreme alcoholism and laziness as significant contributors to the prevalence of famine and poverty in the Acholi Sub-region. During the Pan-Acholi Convocation held at Sir Samuel Baker School in Gulu City, Justice Owiny-Dollo expressed concern that a large portion of the able-bodied Acholi community has turned to alcohol consumption instead of engaging in productive activities, resulting in the sub-region being marked as one of the poorest in national surveys.
Speaking at the convocation, Justice Owiny-Dollo highlighted the alarming trend of heavy drinking, involving individuals of various age groups, including children as young as ten, newly married women, and elderly individuals during the farming season. He emphasized that alcohol has replaced households in Acholi, contributing to the challenges of famine.
Justice Owiny-Dollo also addressed the issue of laziness among the Acholi community, affecting their ability to participate in productive agricultural ventures. He noted a reliance on hired labor from neighboring Lango and West Nile, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the community.
To address the issues of famine and low education standards, Justice Owiny-Dollo called upon clan leaders in the sub-region to establish bylaws mandating farming to improve food security and education.
Dr. Olara Otunnu, former Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party president and initiator of the Pan-Acholi Convocation, emphasized the radical collapse of Acholi society, encompassing both visible and invisible forms. The visible forms include poor education standards, extreme poverty, and declining agriculture, while the invisible aspects involve the loss of cultural identity and a diminished sense of pride.
Otunnu expressed hope that the gathering of leaders to discuss the challenges facing the Acholi society would yield solutions. A 16-member committee tasked with investigating the fundamental collapse of Acholi society is expected to release their fact-finding reports, providing roadmaps to address the identified problems.
The Acholi Sub-region has faced armed conflicts in the past, including the lengthy rebellion by the Lord’s Resistance Army, which significantly impacted the region’s economy, lives, and education, leaving it among the poorest in the country.
The 2019/2020 Uganda National Household Survey report places the Acholi Sub-region among the top poorest in the country, with a poverty rate of 68 percent, higher than the national estimate of 47 percent.
