Humanist

“I was searching about Karamoja culture to help me ease the way of how I could trace my father and I noticed this site (The Humanist View). I would like to know if I can trace my clan in Karamoja through your site.

I was born from western Uganda and I have never had any parent from my father’s line in my life. My father hailed from Karamoja. I WOULD WISH TO BE HELPED.”

A young man reached out to me via the feedback form on my website and blog. I advised him to seek help via the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs. He wrote back:

“Thank you for having allowed me to talk to you on phone yesterday. Regarding the advice you gave me, reaching out to the Ministry for Karamoja affairs, I appreciate too! But I think it’s not easy for me to write to him or her as a civilian.”

I was astonished at how he viewed the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs, a story for another day. I didn’t respond. After a couple of days, he made contact again via the feedback form, shared more detailed information and requested my help:

“I am from Fort Portal and 21 years old. I am seeking help to find my missing father, who has been missing from my life ever since I was born (2000 up to date).

His name is Obukulem Mathias, but growing up, I heard people call him Bokolam Mathias. Apparently, he told people that he came from Karamoja.

In the 2000s, he was a soldier operating at a certain barracks in Kabarole District. During ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) terrorist times in Uganda. He was the army commander at rank of corporal. When Government relocated soldiers at that barracks, he never returned.

I am wondering where my father could be. Is he still serving in the Army?

He had another wife, his first wife, with whom he had two daughters – aged between 7 to 10 years then. My mum was a second wife.

For the 21 years that I have lived, I have been with my maternal grandfather. It is unfortunate that my maternal grandfather has died in 2024.  ANY HELP GIVEN TO FIND MY FATHER IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED.”

I was touched and resolved to help him find his dad using my social capital and networks in Karamoja.

I reached out to one among those from Karamoja who honour me with the title ija (aunt in Ateso); a great honour it is considering the cultural role of an ija in Teso and in Karamoja.

Anyway, I sent a WhatsApp message to Ms. Betty Lomuria, a Karamojong woman of substance that I know to be fully plugged into issues Karamoja affairs. She graciously accepted to help.

In her wisdom and knowledge of Karamoja and its people, Ms. Lomuria predicted that the name of the father we sought to find, is predominant among the Karimojong people of Abim.

Via WhatsApp message, she reached out to Mr. Chris Ogwang, whom she describes as “a human rights activist, gentle and good friend.” She was right and he did not disappoint.

Mr. Ogwang turned out to be “our link with the Abim community, and was instrumental in locating the father we sought,” Ms. Lomuria observed.

Mr. Ogwang as well, used WhatsApp, first to in-box significant leaders in Abim District, including the District Chairperson. The leaders confirmed knowing the father that we sought.

In order to locate him and establish for sure, they published the search on the Abim District WhatsApp group, from where a member copied it and further published it on the Village WhatsApp group of the village of the father we sought.

Within a period of less than two weeks we registered success. I received the joyous news from Ms. Lomuria, via WhatsApp, celebrating:

“We got Abokalam and he agreed to know the boy. We are now looking for transport to collect our son!”

Here is the confirmation:

“Dear Team, this is Abokalam Mathias.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Almighty God for taking good care of us throughout this year and more especially Nyimalema and all the team here for forwarding the message that made our blood, my boy, to locate me.

Ekanya, I can confirm the boy is mine.

I remember taking something (bridal gifts) to my in-laws there. I’m sorry to hear of the passing of my muzee (father in-law), who was taking good care of my boy.

But, never the less, I welcome the boy home and I promise to take good care of the boy as well.

Thank you all. May God bless you.”

The power of literacy enabled the young man to be re-united with his father. Literacy, as it is defined by the National Literacy Trust as “the ability to read, write, speak and listen in a way that lets us communicate effectively and make sense of the world,” indeed, is the greatest gift someone could give me.

I am privileged to be literate in English (the official language of Uganda); in Ateso (the language of the fourth largest first nation of Uganda, the Iteso Chiefdom, my ancestry); and in Luganda (the language of the largest first nation of Uganda, the Buganda Kingdom). Skills am endowed via formal education and socialization.

Literacy, is among those gifts that keeps on giving to the recipient and others too. Being literate in more than one language is an added advantage. It enables communicating wider and to do good.

I seek to find out if father and son are together now, living happily as a family. Please do up-date me via comment on this post. For now, I am humbled by the potential of my blogging to do good. And it is my goal to continue to do more of it, use the power of literacy, to good.

Profiled photo @ Lomuria Konyen Betty (in the fore on the right)