At least 400 athletes mainly reformed warriors and top Athletes from East Africa have confirmed their participation in the 11th edition of Tegla Lourope peace race in Moroto this weekend. It involves competitions in a 10km race for men and 5km for women. The event has been instrumental in creating peace among the Karimojong, Kenyan Pokot, Toposa from South Sudan and the Marakwet from Northern Kenya.
The warriors who are prone to cattle rustling will also compete for a take home cash prizes. On the list, the Sabiny from Bukwo district in Sebei will also participate for the second time since the inception of the peace race a decade ago. The peace event comes barely a month following renewed clashes between the Karimojong and Turkana.
Over 20 warriors were killed amongst the two traditional ethnic groups after a fierce clash in Lokiriama Location, Loima district in Kenya. The conflict has forced the kinsmen to migrate over 200 kilometers from each other leaving their cradle land along the Uganda-Kenya border for fear of revenge.
High level delegates from Uganda, Kenya and Germany among other countries will attend the two-day event which kicks off on Friday with a conflict solving dialogue. The Chairperson Karamoja chapter Paul Abul tells URN that the occasion aims at promoting peace amongst the warring pastoralists in the Karamoja cluster.
He says the peace race has also nurtured some world athletes like the founder Tegla Lourope. He adds that Uganda, Kenya and Southern Sudan are setting a centre stage for the pastoralists to unite for a common goal.
