President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has unveiled a three-phase food stabilisation strategy for Karamoja aimed at strengthening food security and reducing dependence on emergency relief.
He announced the strategy today while officiating at the 11th Karamoja Cultural Event at Naitakwae Grounds in Moroto District. The week-long event, organised by the Karamoja Cultural Association, runs from September 6 to 12 under the theme: “Unity in Culture, Strength in Peace, Prosperity Through Tourism and Natural Resources.”
The President said the strategy was prompted by climate change effects that have repeatedly forced government to provide emergency food relief, currently worth about Shs45 billion, to drought-hit areas. Cabinet has now resolved to adopt a more sustainable approach.
Under the plan, government will provide agricultural inputs and livestock suited to Karamoja’s harsh climate.
President Museveni tasked the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, John Baptist Lokii, to elaborate how the strategy will be implemented.
He said the immediate phase will focus on fast-maturing crops including sorghum, green gram and white peas, and cautioned against over-reliance on maize due to its long maturity period and dry conditions.
He encouraged households to embrace goat rearing and beekeeping, noting goats can survive on available shrubs. Cassava and bananas can also be grown in wetter parts of Karamoja.
*From subsistence to commercial farming*
The medium and long-term phases will progressively move households to modern commercial agriculture, with irrigation as the central pillar.
“Karamoja is a fertile area, but it’s because of water body encroachment. Therefore, we are going to put up big projects to support irrigation in Karamoja, like big dams,” President Museveni said.
He warned against wetland encroachment, stressing the need to protect wetlands as part of Uganda’s water system.
The President also called for a cultural audit to preserve positive practices and abandon those that hinder development, such as nomadism. He commended the region for practices that have contributed to resilience, including relatively low HIV/AIDS prevalence.
*Peace foundation*
President Museveni attributed Karamoja’s improving prospects to restored peace after the disarmament programme, which recovered about 41,000 illegal guns and reduced cattle raids.
He thanked women for their role in the initial disarmament and commended those who exposed commercial networks behind raids and helped former Karacunas abandon violence.
He directed that Fr. Raphael Lobere be awarded a medal for his contribution to peace restoration in Karamoja.
*Leaders hail transformation*
Vice President Jessica Alupo thanked the people of Karamoja for supporting the NRM in the recent elections, saying peace has opened up development opportunities.
NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong urged locals to use their cultural heritage to fight household poverty.
Minister Lokii welcomed the food stabilisation focus, saying it will complement wealth-creation programmes like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, but appealed for delayed recovery of PDM funds due to prolonged drought.
“Let us allow Karamojong to recover properly from this strong drought,” he said.
The event has attracted about 15,000 participants from the wider Ateker cluster, including Karamojong, Iteso, Ethur, Ik and Tepeth, as well as Turkana and Pokot from Kenya, Toposa from South Sudan and Nyangatom from Ethiopia.
