Category: Frontline

Filipino Comboni missionary, Father Nolasco Robiso Jovilla, Jr., has been living with Father Pietro Ciapponi in Kanawati since December 2005. This year, he has been learning successfully the Karimojong language, a difficult one (a word may have different meanings depending on its tone); and discovering the mysteries of their culture. He confesses: “I am starting to appreciate the people and the culture. Karimojong are the freest people I’ve ever met. They don’t even need clothes and they need little food. Every day is a new learning experience for me.”

During my visit to Karamoja, I had the opportunity to visit a kraal – a few hundred meters where Karimojong keep their animals during the night. With me was a Filipino Comboni missionary, Nolie Jovilla, Jr. (see box below), who is learning the local language. Some Karimojong friends were our guides.

For the last 9 years, Father Pietro Ciapponi, a Comboni missionary, has been working among the Karimojong, a group of semi-nomadic herders who lives in Northern Uganda. Livestock is their way of living, but it can also cause many deaths: conflicts involving cattle raids are common and sometimes lead to skirmishes with the army. Something that Fr. Pietrois trying to stop, by preaching the gospel of peace and promoting conflict-resolution initiatives. People are listening and, as a way of praising his work, they call him “Father Quiet Bull.”

The hope of clearing the scandals and injustices associated to Kenya’s elite
is vanishing. But there is still a spark: Till the end of this year, the government must announce the conclusions of a new investigation on the violent death of Father John Anthony Kaiser, a missionary who dared to accuse the powerful for not defending the poorest of the poor. If the case is fairly judged, there remains a chance of breaking the long chain of impunity in high places.