Budi County
Encyclopedia
Budi County is an administrative area of Eastern Equatoria state in South Sudan
, with headquarters in Chukudum
.
to the south, Ikotos County
to the south west, Lafon County
to the north west, and Kapoeta to the north east.
Until recently, Budi County was part of Greater Kapoeta. It was split off when Greater Kapoeta
was divided between Kapoeta County and Budi County, named after the Buya and Didinga (BU-DI) people. Kapoeta County was later split into Kapoeta North
, South
and East
counties.
Budi County has two distinct ecological zones. The highlands run from north to south along the eastern border with Kapoeta County. The lowlands descend from the east towards the Kidepo River
in the west.
The highlands have two rainy seasons, March-September and October-February, making agriculture productive and often producing surplus crops for sale. The lowlands have a single long planting season from March to September, and often experience food shortages.
The county is divided into the payams of Kimatong, Lotukei, Komiri (Chukudum), Loudo, Lauro, Ngarich and Nagishot.
The Buya people are 20-30% of the population and the Didinga people 70-80% of the total.
2005 population estimates ranged between 128,385 and 155,847, with the lower number considered more plausible.
The Buya occupy most of the lowlands of the Kimatong and Ngarich payams, in the northern half of the county, and the Didinga occupy the remaining southern payams of the county.
As of 2005 Budi County had one 800 metres (2,624.7 ft) airstrip, in Chukudum town.
It had no paved roads, but was accessible from Kenya and Uganda, at least in the dry season.
With the Didinga-Toposa peace agreement of February 2003 the Kapoeta
-Lauro road was opened and it became possible for aid workers to reach the Lauro payam for the first time. New unpaved roads had given the economy a boost.
The main crops are sorghum, maize, bulrush millet, potatoes, beans and sesame. There is potential, at least among the Didinga in the south, for the country to produce a surplus of crops.
Wild foods are found in most areas, particularly in the fertile Kidepo valley
, and include komok, lalop (desert date), nyyethit, tamarind, leit and palm fruits. Fish and game are not a significant source of food.
The Buya mainly measure their wealth in cattle, while the Didinga include cattle and granaries of threshed grain in their measure of wealth. With both groups, livestock plays a central role in peoples' lives, and are important during initiation and marriage rites where they are slaughtered for food or exchanged as formal gifts.
A December 2009 livelihood assessment conducted by International Relief and Development (IRD), the American Refugee Committee
(ARC) and Mines Advisory Group
(MAG), found that 5,000 Internally Displaced People and 2,528 returnees were living in the county. These people had few means for survival, and suffered chronic malnutrition. They had little knowledge of farming, including planting, weeding, water control, harvesting and sales of their crop. Failures of rainfall in 2009 had aggravated the problem.
(SPLA) in 1987.
During the civil war, insecurity was caused by fighting between the SPLA and the rebel forces of Commander Peter Lorot
, cattle rustling and attacks from militia groups. The fighting with Lorot's forces displaced about 16,800 people from Chukudum to nearby villages in the highlands. The "Chukudom Crisis" was resolved in August 2002 during a Peace Conference organized by the New Sudan Council of Churches
. During the crisis, landmines were sown in the fields around Chukudum. Cattle raids by the Logiri of Torit
and the Toposa of Kapoeta have been an ongoing cause of insecurity. The Lord's Resistance Army
from Uganda, led by Joseph Kony, was among the armed groups that added to the general insecurity.
A 2005 report noted tension between the Didinga and the SPLA, with villagers afraid of the soldiers and young women hiding in the hills to avoid rape.
Security is still poor.
Before the January 2011 referendum, County Commissioner Charles Adtul said the people of the Lotukei Payam were not able to vote vote because they were afraid to cross the territories of other communities after an attack on 24 December 2010 in which five people were killed and three injured.
In February 2011 two Catholic priests from the Torit
diocese were ambushed at Ngarera on the road between Camp 15 and Chukudum. More than six men in military uniforms sprayed their vehicle with bullets before being scared away by an approaching minibus.
A few days later, two policemen were killed, while 16 others escaped, in an ambush on the Loriyok-Chukudum road.
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
, with headquarters in Chukudum
Chukudum
Chukudum is a village in Budi County of the Eastern Equatoria state of South Sudan.-Location:The village lies at the base of the Didinga Mountains, which are often shrouded in clouds, in spectacularly beautiful country...
.
Location
Budi county is located in the south of Eastern Equatoria state, bordered by UgandaUganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
to the south, Ikotos County
Ikotos County
Ikotos County is an administrative area in the Eastern Equatoria state of South Sudan with headquarters in the town of Ikotos. The people, who live by subsistence agriculture and cattle herding, are poverty-stricken. Years of civil war have made violence commonplace: most people have experienced...
to the south west, Lafon County
Lafon County
Lafon Country is an administrative area in Eastern Equatoria State of South Sudan, with headquarters at Lafon.The main community belongs to the Pari ethnic group.Other communities are Lopit and Lotuko people....
to the north west, and Kapoeta to the north east.
Until recently, Budi County was part of Greater Kapoeta. It was split off when Greater Kapoeta
Greater Kapoeta
Greater Kapoeta is the name given to the eastern half of Eastern Equatoria State in South Sudan, at one time an administrative region with headquarters in the town of Kapoeta....
was divided between Kapoeta County and Budi County, named after the Buya and Didinga (BU-DI) people. Kapoeta County was later split into Kapoeta North
Kapoeta North County
Kapoeta North County is an administrative division of Eastern Equatoria state in South Sudan. The principal settlement is Riwoto and the largest ethnic group are the Toposa people. The county emblem is an elephant.-Government facilities:...
, South
Kapoeta South County
Kapoeta South County is an administrative region in Eastern Equatoria state of South Sudan, with headquarters in Kapoeta town.The county logo is a ram with horns and slightly bent tail.The county includes the Kapoeta Town, Machi and Namorunyang Payams....
and East
Kapoeta East County
Kapoeta East County is an administrative region of Eastern Equatoria state in South Sudan, bordered by Kenya to the south, Ethiopia to the east and Jonglei state to the west. It is part of the Greater Kapoeta region of the state...
counties.
Budi County has two distinct ecological zones. The highlands run from north to south along the eastern border with Kapoeta County. The lowlands descend from the east towards the Kidepo River
Kidepo River
The Kidepo River is a seasonal river along the Kidepo Valley in the Karamoja region of Uganda, and in East Equatoria area of South Sudan.-See also:* List of rivers of Uganda* List of rivers of South Sudan...
in the west.
The highlands have two rainy seasons, March-September and October-February, making agriculture productive and often producing surplus crops for sale. The lowlands have a single long planting season from March to September, and often experience food shortages.
The county is divided into the payams of Kimatong, Lotukei, Komiri (Chukudum), Loudo, Lauro, Ngarich and Nagishot.
The Buya people are 20-30% of the population and the Didinga people 70-80% of the total.
2005 population estimates ranged between 128,385 and 155,847, with the lower number considered more plausible.
The Buya occupy most of the lowlands of the Kimatong and Ngarich payams, in the northern half of the county, and the Didinga occupy the remaining southern payams of the county.
As of 2005 Budi County had one 800 metres (2,624.7 ft) airstrip, in Chukudum town.
It had no paved roads, but was accessible from Kenya and Uganda, at least in the dry season.
With the Didinga-Toposa peace agreement of February 2003 the Kapoeta
Kapoeta
Kapoeta is a town in South Sudan. It is located in Kapoeta South County, in Eastern Equatoria State, in southeastern South Sudan.-Location:The town lies on the east bank of the Singaita River...
-Lauro road was opened and it became possible for aid workers to reach the Lauro payam for the first time. New unpaved roads had given the economy a boost.
Economy
Both the Buya and Didinga peoples are agro-pastoralists.The main crops are sorghum, maize, bulrush millet, potatoes, beans and sesame. There is potential, at least among the Didinga in the south, for the country to produce a surplus of crops.
Wild foods are found in most areas, particularly in the fertile Kidepo valley
Kidepo River
The Kidepo River is a seasonal river along the Kidepo Valley in the Karamoja region of Uganda, and in East Equatoria area of South Sudan.-See also:* List of rivers of Uganda* List of rivers of South Sudan...
, and include komok, lalop (desert date), nyyethit, tamarind, leit and palm fruits. Fish and game are not a significant source of food.
The Buya mainly measure their wealth in cattle, while the Didinga include cattle and granaries of threshed grain in their measure of wealth. With both groups, livestock plays a central role in peoples' lives, and are important during initiation and marriage rites where they are slaughtered for food or exchanged as formal gifts.
A December 2009 livelihood assessment conducted by International Relief and Development (IRD), the American Refugee Committee
American Refugee Committee
The American Refugee Committee is an international nonprofit, nonsectarian organization that has provided humanitarian assistance and training to millions of beneficiaries over the last 30 years....
(ARC) and Mines Advisory Group
Mines Advisory Group
The Mines Advisory Group is a Non-Governmental Organisation , which assists people affected by landmines, unexploded ordnance and SALW ....
(MAG), found that 5,000 Internally Displaced People and 2,528 returnees were living in the county. These people had few means for survival, and suffered chronic malnutrition. They had little knowledge of farming, including planting, weeding, water control, harvesting and sales of their crop. Failures of rainfall in 2009 had aggravated the problem.
Security issues
The County came under the control of the Sudan People's Liberation ArmySudan People's Liberation Army
The Sudan People's Liberation Movement is a political party in South Sudan. It was initially founded as a rebel political movement with a military wing known as the Sudan People's Liberation Army estimated at 180,000 soldiers. The SPLM fought in the Second Sudanese Civil War against the Sudanese...
(SPLA) in 1987.
During the civil war, insecurity was caused by fighting between the SPLA and the rebel forces of Commander Peter Lorot
Peter Lorot
Peter Lorot is a former officer who served with the Sudan People's Liberation Army during the Second Sudanese Civil War . He broke away from the SPLA in 1999 with a Didinga force based on Chukudum, in Budi County of Eastern Equatoria State in South Sudan...
, cattle rustling and attacks from militia groups. The fighting with Lorot's forces displaced about 16,800 people from Chukudum to nearby villages in the highlands. The "Chukudom Crisis" was resolved in August 2002 during a Peace Conference organized by the New Sudan Council of Churches
New Sudan Council of Churches
The New Sudan Council of Churches is an organization comprising six churches located in Southern Sudan: the Roman Catholic Church, Episcopal Church of the Sudan, Presbyterian Church of Sudan, African Inland Church, Sudan Pentecostal Church, and Sudan Interior Church...
. During the crisis, landmines were sown in the fields around Chukudum. Cattle raids by the Logiri of Torit
Torit County
Torit County is an administrative region in Eastern Equatoria State of South Sudan, with headquarters in the town of Torit, which is also the state capital.-Location:...
and the Toposa of Kapoeta have been an ongoing cause of insecurity. The Lord's Resistance Army
Lord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
from Uganda, led by Joseph Kony, was among the armed groups that added to the general insecurity.
A 2005 report noted tension between the Didinga and the SPLA, with villagers afraid of the soldiers and young women hiding in the hills to avoid rape.
Security is still poor.
Before the January 2011 referendum, County Commissioner Charles Adtul said the people of the Lotukei Payam were not able to vote vote because they were afraid to cross the territories of other communities after an attack on 24 December 2010 in which five people were killed and three injured.
In February 2011 two Catholic priests from the Torit
Torit
-Location:The town is located in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State, in the southeastern part of South Sudan, close to the International border with the Republic of Uganda. Its location lies approximately , by road, east of Juba, the capital and largest city in that country...
diocese were ambushed at Ngarera on the road between Camp 15 and Chukudum. More than six men in military uniforms sprayed their vehicle with bullets before being scared away by an approaching minibus.
A few days later, two policemen were killed, while 16 others escaped, in an ambush on the Loriyok-Chukudum road.