Karamoja Regional Museum

A painting on the wall in Karamoja regional Museum showing the Karamoja sub-region. Drawn by Peter Apaja, the Assistant Conservator of the Museum

Karamoja Regional Museum is a public museum in Moroto Town run under the Department of Museums and Monuments in the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities of Uganda. It also serves as a cultural center where cultural heritage in form of objects is showcased for people to access and appreciate the cultural heritage of the Karamoja sub-region^[1].

History and Etymology

Its construction was funded by the French Embassy in Uganda under its Co-operation and Cultural Affairs department^[2]. It was officially opened in March, 2012. In addition to conservation and education of the region’s paleontology, the museum showcases the past and modern lifestyles of the Karamajong people. It houses material culture (ethnographic collections) and the fossil collections of Karamoja Sub-region^[1].

File:Afropithecus.jpg

A pictorial representation of Afropithecus from Moroto II Paleontological site, Uganda

It is one of the regional museums under the Department of Museums and Monuments, Ministry of Toursim Wildlife and Antiquities of Uganda

Collections

The Museum hosts collections illustrating the cultural and ancient natural heritage of Karomoja region in form of ethnographical objects, archaeological artifacts and paleontological fossils such as Afropithecus/Morotopithecus bishop, Morotopithecus Clarki^[3] and other large apes of the middle Miocene of Napak ^[4]^[5]. The collection comprises the following displays;

Pre History

Picture showing fossils in a showcase in Karamoja Regional Museum

A tooth and skull fragment of an elephant, snout, teeth and leg bones of Afropithecus discovered from Loitokero village, Moroto District.

A selection of fossil materials from Karamoja is on display. Examples of fossils on displays include; plant material such as roots, stems and leaf impressions, pollen and animal material such as teeth, skulls, coprolites (fossilized faeces) among others^[2]^[6].

History of Karamoja

File:Micropithecus Clarki.jpg

A foss jaw of an ape (Morotopithecus clarki) from Napak IV paleontological site, Uganda

The collection displays aspects of colonial and pre-colonial history of Karamoja on displays such as the migrations, famine, warrior life and cattle smuggling, gun warfare and now school. Archaeological materials and information has been gathered about Stone and Iron Age sites such as Magosi Archaeological site and stone tools are displayed as well ^[6]^[7]^[8]

The people and how they live

The collections display implements of everyday life and memorabilia of past cultural practice portray the traditional life of the Karamojong communities^[2]^[7].

The environment

Inside the Museum, an exhibit about Karamoja environment displays to the public about the Karamoja wildlife and its environment insects, mammals, birds and fish.

Activities

The Museum offers research and education services for pupils, students and scholars.

References

^ ^a ^b independent, The (2021-01-27). "A Hidden Treasure". The Independent Uganda:. Retrieved 2021-05-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c "A museum for karamoja". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
^ "Re-evaluating the diets of Morotopithecus bishopi and Afropithecus turkanensis: An anterior dentognathic perspective". Journal of Human Evolution. 112: 1–14. 2017-11-01. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2017.08.012. ISSN 0047-2484.
^ Pickford, Senut, Gommery, Musalizi & Ssebuyungo (2020). "Descriptive Catalogue of LArge ape dento-gnathic remains from the early and middle Miocene of Napak, Uganda" (PDF). Geopal Uganda. 17: 1–61 – via Database.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Pickford, Senut, Musalizi, Gommery & Ssebuyungo (2019). "Early Miocene Victoriapithecid Monkey from Napak, Uganda" (PDF). Geopal Uganda. 12: 1–17 – via Database.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ ^a ^b J. P., Barber (22 January 2009). "The Karamoja District of Uganda". The Journal of African History. 3: 111–124 – via Journal of African History.
^ ^a ^b "Katine: Who are the Karamojong?". the Guardian. 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
^ Knighton, Ben (2003). "The State as Raider among the Karamojong: 'Where There Are No Guns, They Use the Threat of Guns'". Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. 73 (3): 427–455. doi:10.2307/3556911. ISSN 0001-9720.

[:0-1] t, The (2021-01-27). "A Hidden Treasure". The Independent Uganda:. Retrieved 2021-05-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)

[:3-2] "A museum for karamoja". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 2021-05-22.

[3] "Re-evaluating the diets of Morotopithecus bishopi and Afropithecus turkanensis: An anterior dentognathic perspective". Journal of Human Evolution. 112: 1–14. 2017-11-01. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2017.08.012. ISSN 0047-2484.

[4] Pickford, Senut, Gommery, Musalizi & Ssebuyungo (2020). "Descriptive Catalogue of LArge ape dento-gnathic remains from the early and middle Miocene of Napak, Uganda" (PDF). Geopal Uganda. 17: 1–61 – via Database.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[5] Pickford, Senut, Musalizi, Gommery & Ssebuyungo (2019). "Early Miocene Victoriapithecid Monkey from Napak, Uganda" (PDF). Geopal Uganda. 12: 1–17 – via Database.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[:1-6] J. P., Barber (22 January 2009). "The Karamoja District of Uganda". The Journal of African History. 3: 111–124 – via Journal of African History.

[:2-7] "Katine: Who are the Karamojong?". the Guardian. 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2021-05-22.

[8] Knighton, Ben (2003). "The State as Raider among the Karamojong: 'Where There Are No Guns, They Use the Threat of Guns'". Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. 73 (3): 427–455. doi:10.2307/3556911. ISSN 0001-9720.

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