Death by the Sachet!

ALCOHOLISM

Death is by far the most petrifying event in human discourse. But death, itself a fluid phenomenon, has found shape and form in all facets of human life. It manifests in unavoidable places and moments. In my home districts of Kitgum and Pader, death reveals its presence in each and every household and it is prescribed by the sachet of crude alcohol.

The amount of Gur alcohol packaged in sachets which are streaming into these places from Lango districts ensures that alcohol has become the primary source of all crimes including death and injuries. People die in several stages here before their actual time of death because of the sachet. Their gradual demise starts the moment they start to drink from the sachet.  Our elders once said that the death which kills men faster is that which begins like an appetite. Here, the appetite for the sachet alcohol is the license for death!

On Saturday, March 8^th, 2014, I accompanied the Rwot of Paibwor Clan – HRH Okello Demoi Ajau and his esteemed Prime Minister – Mr. Adola-Tona Seydou to their clan meeting in Acholibur. In the meeting, a heated discussion of rampant death of Paibwor sons and daughters in the hands of other clans took place. It happens that all the recent deaths under discussion were alcohol related.

I attended the meeting in my capacity as a nephew of the Paibwor Clan. Those who know my family will attest that my late father, Lt Col Pangarasio Onek (RIP) was a nephew of the Paibwor clan, which, by extension also makes me one of their nephews – thereby, legitimizing my attendance.

I am cognizant of my Palwo clan roots, given that my birth place where my umbilicus was also buried is at Wangdugu village in Pajule. Although I have had very little time to spend in any of these places, Pajule has always had a special place in my heart. The pain of being a son of Pajule is also inscribed in witnessing its own children perish from this demon called the sachet.

The rampant sight of young men and women inebriated as early as 10am in the morning is more than one can fathom. This debilitating behaviour definitely affects the state of labour and threatens the future of children if these drunken men and women were all parents. Unfortunately, many people here acquire HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases because of drunkenness which leads them to risky sexual behavior. At the Kitgum jail, you find most of the youths serving time for petty crimes of assault, defilement and theft, most of which are alcohol inspired.

The issue of alcoholism is profound and also has a political twist to it. The villagers here have threatened elected leaders to desist from addressing the issue in exchange for votes. However, I found that the Paibwor Rwot, HRH Demoi to be a complete and accomplished leader who is cherished, respected and admired by his subject. He projects a humble, fatherly and well grounded royal pedigree. Instead of unleashing the expected punishment of whips to the drunken youths, he prefers to counsel them to quit abusing alcohol.

The Rwot recognizes that alcoholism is widespread problem in the entire Northern Uganda and yet, the Paibwor clan approach posed a great opportunity for us to learn from. Could the Clan approach help stave off this endemic problem of death by the sachet which has claimed many young lives and pitted clans against clans?

I saw a promising opportunity in collective responsibility (Communitarism) to addressing this problem. Regular clan members’ audit could roll back this dangerous drinking and other social habits. Here, when one kills another, the entire clan is called upon to settle the issue (culu kwor). They pay huge compensation to the clan of the deceased prior to reconciliation (mato oput) as a collective.

Although I conflicted at first with the collective idea of innocent clan members footing the bill for individual crimes, I was guided by the Paibwor clan Prime Minister, Seydou Adolatona Opoka that it took a clan to raise a child and the clan therefore shares equally in its spoils.

END