PRESIDENT MUSEVENI UNVEILS THREE-PHASE FOOD STABILISATION STRATEGY FOR KARAMOJA

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has unveiled a three-phase food
stabilisation strategy for Karamoja aimed at helping households withstand
recurrent droughts, strengthen food security and progressively reduce
dependence on emergency food relief.

The strategy will provide communities with agricultural seed varieties and
livestock suited to the region’s climatic conditions through short-, medium-
and long-term interventions, President Museveni said.

He announced the strategy today while officiating at the 11th edition of the
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.”

President Museveni said the strategy was prompted by the devastating
effects of climate change on agriculture and food security in Karamoja,
which have repeatedly compelled the government to provide emergency
food relief to affected communities.

He noted that the government is currently distributing food relief worth
approximately Shs45 billion to drought-stricken areas.

The President said the Cabinet had consequently resolved to adopt a more
sustainable approach to food security in the region rather than relying
repeatedly on emergency relief.

Under the strategy, the government will provide agricultural inputs and
livestock capable of withstanding the region’s harsh climatic conditions,
enabling households to progressively achieve food security and improve
their livelihoods.

President Museveni tasked the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Hon. John
Baptist Lokii, to elaborate on the Cabinet decision and outline how the
three-phase strategy will be implemented.

President Museveni said the immediate phase would focus on crops
capable of producing food within a relatively short period, given Karamoja’s
unpredictable weather conditions.

He recommended the promotion of sorghum, green gram and white peas,
which have relatively short maturity periods and can provide food within a
shorter growing season.

He cautioned against excessive reliance on maize, citing its relatively long
maturity period and the region’s dry climatic conditions.
The President also encouraged households to embrace goat rearing and
beekeeping as alternative sources of food and income.

He said goats are particularly suited to Karamoja because they can survive
on the shrubs and vegetation available in the region.
Cassava and bananas, he added, can also be grown in the wetter parts of
Karamoja.

From food security to commercial farming:

President Museveni said the medium- and long-term phases would
progressively move households from subsistence production and food
insecurity to modern commercial agriculture.

He said irrigation would be central to this transformation because of the
region’s vulnerability to prolonged drought.

The President called for the development of large-scale water
infrastructure, including dams, to support irrigation and reduce dependence
on rainfall.

“Therefore, 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,” he said.

He also warned against wetland encroachment, stressing the importance of
protecting wetlands as part of Uganda’s water systems rather than
converting them into agricultural land.

Alongside the food stabilisation strategy, President Museveni called on the
people of Karamoja to conduct a cultural audit to identify practices that
should be preserved and those that undermine social and economic
development.

He commended the Karamojong for positive cultural practices that have
contributed to the community’s resilience, including the relatively low
HIV/AIDS prevalence in the region.

However, he urged the community to reconsider practices that hinder
sustainable household income growth, citing nomadism among those that
require re-examination.

“I think you should do a cultural audit. There are some things in your culture
which are good and others which are not good. Keep the good ones and
abandon the bad ones,” the President said.

Peace creates foundation for transformation:

President Museveni also attributed Karamoja’s improving development
prospects to the restoration of peace following the Government’s
disarmament programme.

He said the government had recovered approximately 41,000 illegal guns
from the region, contributing significantly to the reduction of insecurity and
cattle raids.

He particularly thanked women for their role in the initial disarmament
exercise, saying their participation was instrumental in helping the
government recover the firearms.

The President also commended individuals who helped expose commercial
networks behind cattle raiding and those who supported former members
of the Karacunas to abandon violence and embrace productive livelihoods.
He said the transformation of former warriors demonstrated that people
previously involved in violence could change when given opportunities to
earn a living peacefully.

The President further directed that Fr. Raphael Lobere be awarded a medal
for his contribution to peace restoration in Karamoja sub region.

Leaders hail Karamoja transformation:

Vice President, H.E. Jessica Alupo thanked the people of Karamoja for
their support for the NRM in the recently concluded elections, saying the
restoration of peace had opened up significant opportunities for
development.

NRM Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong also congratulated the
people of Karamoja for supporting the NRM Government and urged them
to use their rich cultural heritage as an asset in the fight against household
poverty.

Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Hon. John Baptist Lokii welcomed the
President’s focus on food stabilisation, saying the strategy would
complement existing Government wealth-creation programmes, including
the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga.

Hon. Lokii said Karamoja had made significant progress in peace and
socioeconomic transformation.
However, he appealed to President Museveni to consider delaying recovery
of PDM funds from beneficiaries in Karamoja because of the prolonged
drought.

“Let us allow Karamojongs to recover properly from this strong drought,” he
appealed.

The 11th Karamoja Cultural Event has brought together an estimated
15,000 participants from the wider Ateker cluster, including the
Karamojong, Iteso, Ethur, Ik and Tepeth, as well as the Turkana and Pokot

from Kenya, the Toposa from South Sudan and the Nyangatom from
Ethiopia.

The event is showcasing Karamoja’s cultural heritage while highlighting the
potential of culture, tourism and natural resources to drive peace, economic
growth and socioeconomic transformation in the region.