Moroto Town
Moroto is a town in Moroto District in the Northern Region of Uganda. It is the location of the district headquarters.
Location
Moroto Town is located 420 kilometres northeast of Kampala City and it is the biggest town in Moroto District. It is a town containing mainly small to medium shops and is located near Mount Moroto (10,007 metres). The town is surrounded by households of cattle keepers and gardens of food crops such as corn (maize), cassava (manioc).
Culture of Moroto
Moroto district forms part of 8 Karamoja districts namely Abim,Amudat,Napak,Nakapiripirit,Kotido,Kaabong and Karenga, with a cosmopolitan population. Major tribes include . Acholi Labwor,Iik and Tepes who are marjinalised population,ngakarimojong is the language commonly spoken. English is the official language used and Kiswahili.
Attractions in Moroto
The following are the key attractions in Moroto Town;
- Pian-Upe, Bokora and Matheniko Wildlife Reserves which are located 1 kilometer from Moroto Town. The areas of the Reserves are habitat to significant numbers of game species like; buffalos, hyenas, Dik-Dik, the Greater and Lesser Kudus. The Reserves are traditionally popular for game drives.
- Mount Moroto which is found 5 kilometers close to Moroto Town and the mountain offers opportunity for hill hiking to the less experienced visitor
- Community/Cultural tourism that is the culture and way of life of the Karamajong, including the design of their homesteads (Manyatas) are an important attraction for visitors to the region.
- Crafts and Souvenirs Industry like the Karamajong stools and sticks that are commonly on sale in Moroto Town.
Karamoja
Moroto Town is located in the land occupied by the mainly nomadic Karamoja who move from place to place looking for pasture and water for their cattle. Karamoja areas are mainly dry with rainfall not exceeding 800 millimeters per year.
The Karimojong have a rich traditional way of life and have been quite reluctant to change it’ many have remained resistant to change no matter the force trying to change them, after all in a desert-like land, the Karimojong have survived for centuries, and sometimes survival is all that matters.
Getting to Moroto
From the Moroto bus station, there are direct bus services to Kampala, Soroti, Mbale, Nakapiripirit, and other places in Uganda. The main road to Moroto is the Soroti-Moroto Road, which, as of January 2020, is fully paved. The Moroto–Nakapiripirit Road is fully paved as well. The town is also served by Moroto Airport, a public airport located about 8 kilometres (5 mi) west of downtown.
Sources
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