32 Turkana Men Jailed In Uganda For 20 Years Freed, Set To Undergo Special Rituals

• The 32 men were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for possession of illegal ammunition while in Uganda
• According to Turkana governor Jeremiah Lomorukai, the men were sentenced just hours after their arrest
• This prompted the county government of Turkana to appeal the sentence issued to the 32 Kenyan citizens

In every community, there exists a culture that demands adherence and respect. The Turkana community, renowned for its rich heritage, maintains distinct customs.

What are the Turkana customs?

This was evident on Monday, May 6, when Turkana elders maintained that 32 members of the community who had been jailed in Uganda must undergo special rituals to cleanse them before reuniting with their families.

According to the report done by Citizen TV, Turkana community traditions deem it a curse for an individual to be incarcerated in a foreign country, necessitating rituals to dispel the negative omen.

This means that the former convicts could not be allowed to enter the community before undergoing special cleansing rituals.

A grand ceremony was thrown in honor of the 32 men. The men were then sprinkled with clean water before a goat's green chyme was applied on their body.

" Apart from sprinkling water on them, some chyme which is green in nature is applied on them. This symbolises new life," another community leader said.

After the rituals were made, the men were warned against crossing the Kenya-Uganda border with ammunition.

How were the men set free?

Reprieve for Turkana community after 32 men who were arrested in Uganda for illegal possession of ammunition were freed.

According to a report done by Citizen TV, the men were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on the exact date of their arrest.

This prompted the County government of Turkana, under the leadership of Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai, to file an appeal against the sentence imposed by the Ugandan Court, resulting in a successful outcome.

"The boys were taken through a court martial. They were arrested on that particular day, and by mid-day, they were sentenced to 20 years," Lomorukai said.

Community members could not hold back their joy upon seeing the men arrested last year come back home.

" These people have been set free. The 20-year sentence given to them has been nullified. There are here with us, very free. We are very happy," one resident said.

MP calls for cleansing of Ogolla's son

Elsewhere, Bumula MP Jack Wamboka asserted that Joel Rabuku, son of the late General Francis Ogolla, made a mistake by entering his father's grave to assist in the burial.

Rabuku was captured rolling his sleeves before getting down the grave alongside the undertakers on Sunday, April 21.

"He stated that the late general's son was inappropriate in touching the body, particularly since it was not carried in a coffin.

The perceived transgression could only be rectified through rituals conducted by Luo elders in accordance with their cultural practices, the legislator remarked."

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Photo illustration of Turkana men preparing for initiation

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32 Turkana Men Jailed in Uganda for 20 Years Freed, Set to Undergo