Karamoja Region Of Uganda Research Articles

Cattle, conflict, and climate variability: explaining pastoralist conflict intensity in the Karamoja region of Uganda

Conflicts between pastoralist groups in Africa are rampant and cause numerous deaths each year, but their intensity exhibits significant spatial and temporal variations. Under what conditions do some pastoralist conflicts turn more violent than others? Previous research has shown that climate variability may be a relevant explanatory factor under certain conditions, yet little is known about how specific combinations of conditions jointly affect pastoralist conflict intensity. Moreover, many studies have investigated the link between resource scarcity and conflict, but few have examined how asymmetrical distribution of resources between groups affects levels of violence. This article contributes to filling these gaps through a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) of pastoralist conflicts in Karamoja, Uganda—a region characterized by cattle husbandry, communal conflict, and a highly variable climate. Five conditions that are related either to incentives for taking to violence or to opportunity structures are examined and three pathways to high-intensity conflict are identified. The results show that an asymmetrical distribution of resources between pastoralist groups during a drought incentivizes conflict, particularly in remote areas with nearby armed conflicts. The article highlights some implications for future research and policy. First, it shows that this type of conflict cannot be reduced to simple “resource scarcity conflicts” since climate variability only has an effect in combination with other conditions. Second, it emphasizes the need for policy approaches that consider both environmental variability and political contexts in addressing pastoralist violence.

Climate, flood, and attitudes toward violence: micro-level evidence from Karamoja, Uganda

Concerns about the security implications of climate change are increasing. The growing academic literature on the topic suggests that linkages between climate change and armed conflict are shaped by structural risk factors, but micro-level variation and mechanisms remain poorly understood and flood responses are hardly studied. In this paper, we strive to contribute to a better understanding of such micro-level patterns and investigate how flood exposure affects the support for violence in the Karamoja region of Uganda, which is characterized by many structural vulnerabilities to climate change and armed conflict. We use unique household-level survey panel data and investigate changes in survey responses following a destructive flood. Our study finds that flood exposure was associated with greater support for the use of violence. However, while we identify some adverse impacts of flood exposure on the perceived and actual socio-economic conditions of households and a decrease in perceptions of government support, these do not seem to mediate the estimated flood impact on support for violence against expectations. Our findings point to the limited explanatory power of natural hazards’ economic impacts alone for conflict risk. Further investigation of causal mechanisms between climate hazards and conflict remains an important priority for future research.

Assessment of the impacts of climate change on livestock water sources and livestock production: Case study, Karamoja region of Uganda

AbstractThe study examined the impact of climate change on livestock water sources and livestock production using the Karamoja region of Uganda as a case study. The study's objectives were to determine the general public's perception of climate change, identify the major climatic factors affecting livestock productivity in Karamoja, and assess the extent to which climate change has affected water sources for animals and productivity of livestock in the study region. A cross‐sectional survey design, as well as a quantitative and qualitative data analysis, was used in the study. The total population of the study unit was 258, and the sample size was 222, which was chosen specifically through a purposive and random sampling technique. From the results and discussion of the study sample, while the general public was aware of and understands climate change, the study concluded that the likely causes of climate change were numerous, including deforestation, charcoal burning, natural events such as lake currents, carbon emissions, and land degradation. In Karamoja, climate change is causing erratic and uneven rainfall, drying of surface water bodies such as dams and rivers, high temperatures, deforestation, and outbreaks of livestock diseases. The major climatic factors identified that affect livestock water sources and productivity are higher temperatures, which have led to decreases in water levels and drying of seasonal surface water sources that livestock depend on, as well as flooding of some regions during heavy rains. The results from the regression model also showed that climate change has affected livestock water sources and productivity, with an 84.7% impact. The following adaptation measures have been proposed: diversification of livestock and crop varieties, agroforestry, awareness and sensitization campaigns, increased government and partner investment in water harvesting and agroforestry schemes, and improved capacity of all organizations and institutes involved.

Stakeholder Participation and Sustainability of World Bank Funded Water Projects in Karamoja, Uganda

According to the Stakeholder Theory, the participation of stakeholders affects project outcomes, thus, it is theorised where the stakeholder has a stake in the project process that the project will meet its set out objectives and be sustainable. The aim of the research project was to establish the effect of stakeholder participation on project sustainability. Stakeholder participation focused on inclusion in project identification, planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation. The study was guided by the theory of systems, the stakeholder theory, and the contingency theory. The research design used in this research project was descriptive. The target population of the study were the sixty-water project constructed in the seven districts in the Karamoja region of Uganda. The unit of observations were officials from the World Bank, district officials from the Ministry of Water and Environment, project developers, community leaders, and beneficiaries. The information needed to determine stakeholder participation was obtained using questionnaires. The data collected was analysed using descriptive and inferential analysis which consists of correlations and regression. From the responses given, it was established that the stakeholders were involved in the determination of the site of the projects, the projects developed adhered to government development plans, there was consultation in determining the site of the projects, timelines were agreed upon by the stakeholders, every step of construction was controlled by the stakeholders, funds were released based on progress made and there were regular site visits. Through statistical analysis it was determined that stakeholder participation in project identification, project planning, project implementation and project monitoring and evaluation had a positive and statistically significant effect on sustainability. From the findings, it was concluded that increased participation of stakeholders in every aspect of the project process enhanced project sustainability. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the stakeholders, particularly the beneficiaries should be included in all aspects of the project.

Citizenship, Resistance and Animals: Karamoja Region Pastoralists' Resilience against State Violence in Uganda

Abstract Universal equality is achieved through citizenship. Despite this normative definition, the reality of citizenship differs across space and time. Against the backdrop of the decentring of state power in the wake of globalisation, when Western scrutiny focused on the peripheries of Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan, and when integrated disarmament and sedentarisation policies were promoted, pastoralists in the Karamoja region of Uganda, rather than appealing to normative notions of citizenship, initiated their own practice of citizenship in resistance to and articulation with the state order. Aware that direct confrontation with power immobilises a one-sided violence perpetration/victimisation relationship, pastoralists developed a repertoire of citizenship-related practices, including animals as co-citizens, to obtain recognition for continued nomadic pastoralism.

The role of disaster risk financing in building resilience of poor communities in the Karamoja region of Uganda: Evidence from an experimental study

The occurrence of natural disasters continues to ravage communities from all around the world, and the impacts are far reaching for underdeveloped regions. Karamoja region in the north-east of Uganda has endured severe droughts for decades, causing deaths, underdevelopment and abject poverty. Disaster risk financing (DRF) as a proactive approach to disaster risk reduction was piloted in Karamoja in 2016. The approach involved early detection of disaster risks and making financial resources available to take care of the needs of the affected communities during and after drought disasters. The initiative offered paid labor-intensive work on public projects to engender disaster risk resilience by preventing consumption from dropping and protecting people's livelihoods and assets. This paper focuses on how DRF contributed towards household productive assets and food consumption, comparing the periods before and after the intervention. This paper uses data from a sample of the same cohort of households selected scientifically across three districts of Karamoja. A mixed method approach, involving both qualitative and quantitative methods was used. A number of significant findings were made, highlighting DRF as an effective mechanism in building resilience of poor communities against disasters. Several scholarly and policy recommendations have been generated.

Eco-socio Impact of Mineral Resource Mining in the Karamoja Region of Uganda

Mining is one of the prolific activities geared towards poverty eradication, but an elusive goal for most government leaders in developing countries. Oftentimes, the economic aspect of mining overshadows ecological and social needs in context of host communities. For that reason, Karamoja region has experienced violent ethnic conflicts, which has made it difficult to trust mining activities to transform the area and contribute to healing of the deep-seated animosity within ethnic groups. This study used interviews and focus group discussions among artisanal miners and the data obtained was content analysed. The outcomes indicated that mineral resource mining activities are still in their infancy, yet environmental degradation is visible and human rights violations and escalating disagreements between communities are also evident. Therefore, peaceful co-existence is a prerequisite between mining companies and the Karamajong to achieve sustainable eco-socio development in Karamoja region. Moreover, the local people‘s participation in mining activities is instrumental in achieving sustainable development. Key words · Eco-socio · Mineral resource · Mining · Karamajong

Participatory evaluation of delivery of animal health care services by community animal health workers in Karamoja region of Uganda.

AimAn evaluation exercise was carried out to assess the performance of Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) in the delivery of animal health care services in Karamoja region, identify capacity gaps and recommend remedial measures.Materials & methodsParticipatory methods were used to design data collection tools. Questionnaires were administered to 204 CAHWs, 215 farmers and 7 District Veterinary Officers (DVOs) to collect quantitative data. Seven DVOs and 1 Non Government Organization (NGO) representative were interviewed as key informants and one focus group discussion was conducted with a farmer group in Nakapiripirit to collect qualitative data. Questionnaire data was analyzed using SPSS version 19. Key messages from interviews and the focus group discussion were recorded in a notebook and reported verbatim.Results70% of the farmers revealed that CAHWs are the most readily available animal health care service providers in their respective villages. CAHWs were instrumental in treatment of sick animals, disease surveillance, control of external parasites, animal production, vaccination, reporting, animal identification, and performing minor surgeries. Regarding their overall performance 88.8%(191/215) of the farmers said they were impressed. The main challenges faced by the CAHWs were inadequate facilitation, lack of tools and equipments, unwillingness of government to integrate them into the formal extension system, poor information flow, limited technical capacity to diagnose diseases, unwillingness of farmers to pay for services and sustainability issues.Conclusions and recommendationsCAHWs remain the main source of animal health care services in Karamoja region and their services are largely satisfactory. The technical deficits identified require continuous capacity building programs, close supervision and technical backstopping. For sustainability of animal health care services in the region continuous training and strategic deployment of paraprofessionals that are formally recognised by the traditional civil service to gradually replace CAHWs is recommended.

Infections and risk factors for livestock with species of Anaplasma, Babesia and Brucella under semi-nomadic rearing in Karamoja Region, Uganda.

A survey was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Anaplasma, Babesia and Brucella spp. infections in cattle, goats and sheep in the Karamoja Region of Uganda and to identify possible risk factors existing in this semi-nomadic and pastoral area. Low cost laboratory tests were used to diagnose infections (Rose Bengal test for Brucella spp. antibodies and direct microscopic examination for Anaplasma and Babesia spp.). Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to identify possible risk factors linked to gender, animal species, age (only for cattle) and districts. A total of 3935 cattle, 729 goats and 306 sheep of five districts of the Karamoja Region were tested. Seroprevalence for Brucella was 9.2% (CI, 95%: 8.4-10), for Anaplasma 19.5% (CI 95%: 18.4-20.6) and for Babesia 16% (CI 95%: 15-17.1). Significant differences in infections prevalence were observed against risk factors associated with districts and species. Cattle were the species with higher risk of the infections. Female gender was identified as at risk only for Brucella spp. infection. Cattle more than one year old had greater likelihood to be Brucella seropositive. Co-infections of Anaplasma and Babesia spp. were statistically associated, especially in goats and sheep. Further studies to identify risk factors related to host species and geographical districts are needed. The influence on the semi-nomadic agro-pastoral system in Karamoja of animal raids and animal mixing should be further investigated. Findings were important to sensitize Karamojong undertaking measures on infection control, especially on cattle, which are their main source of food.

Hepatitis E in Karamoja, Uganda, 2009-2012: epidemiology and challenges to control in a setting of semi-nomadic pastoralism.

A prolonged hepatitis E outbreak occurred between 2009 and 2012 among a semi-nomadic pastoralist population in the Karamoja region of Uganda. As data on the public health problems of nomadic pastoralists in sub-Saharan Africa is limited, we sought to characterize the epidemiology and challenges to control of hepatitis E in such a setting. A retrospective case-series investigation was undertaken. Surveillance line-lists of suspected hepatitis E cases maintained during the outbreak were analyzed. Standardized interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with key informants involved in outbreak control activities. Between August 2009 and September 2012, 987 hepatitis E cases with individual case-based data were identified. Of 22 total deaths, almost half occurred during the first 4 months of the outbreak. Infection attack rates were higher among males and young adults. The average time between onset of jaundice and presentation was approximately 1 week. Challenges to control were related to persistent consumption of untreated water, poor sanitation infrastructure, remote geography, nomadic movement and civil insecurity. The hepatitis E outbreak in Karamoja highlights the emergence of sanitation and hygiene-related disease among semi-nomadic pastoralist populations. Improving sanitation and safe water access and extending health education programs to remote pastoralist communities is crucial to prevent such diseases from becoming endemic.

Circulation of bluetongue virus in goats in the Karamoja region of Uganda

The presence of bluetongue virus (BTV) in indigenous goats from the Karamoja region of northern Uganda was investigated. A total of 300 goats were sampled (serum and whole blood) from five districts within the Karamoja region. The samples were analysed for the presence of bluetongue (BT) antibodies using a commercial Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and for the presence of BTV viral RNA by real-time Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), because BTV is an RNA virus. Of the 300 goats tested, 269 (90%) were positive for BTV antibodies, indicating high levels of BTV circulation within the region. Out of the 150 whole blood samples tested for the presence of the virus by real-time RT-PCR, 84 (56%) were positive for BTV RNA. This study, which is the first of its kind in Uganda, showed a high seroprevalence of BT antibodies and active circulation of BTV in a high proportion of goats in the Karamoja region.

Decentralization and territorial politics: the dilemma of constructing and managing identities in Uganda

By examining the process of internal boundary adjustment in the Karamoja region of Uganda, this paper argues that internal boundary adjustments in Uganda have been pursued along ethnic lines, leading to a territorial kind of citizenship and an ethnic ‘containerization’ of communities. Based on an examination of the 2001 and 2011 presidential elections in Uganda's Acholi and Lango regions, the paper further argues that internal administrative boundary adjustments in Uganda have a political usage and meaning that goes beyond the official rhetoric of administrative efficiency used to justify these reforms. Internal boundary adjustment does not, however, always lead to the political ends intended by the ruling party. Both the National Resistance Army/Movement (NRA/M) government and opposition parties have attempted, and benefitted from, internal boundary adjustments. The empirical data presented are based on official reports and documents from the Government of Uganda, Electoral Commission election reports, and a review of published books, journals and newspapers articles.

'Forced Migration' in Karamoja Uganda

This paper is a desk-top exploratory literature review examining the historical, military, cultural, political, economic and social push factors that explain the current conditions and movement of people within and without the Karamoja region of Uganda. The Karamoja sub region is located in the northeastern part of Uganda bordering the Republic of Kenya and Sudan.Karamoja is one of the most conflict-prone zones of Uganda because it experiences recurrent widespread cattle rustling, lawlessness, criminality, banditry and generalized insecurity. The area is characterized by bad roads, lack of water, telecommunications and electricity, poor sanitation, access to basic social services such as education and health and virtually no employment opportunities. The zone also suffers from absence of or weak presence of the state and its institutions. Political instability, economic weakness, food insecurity and marginalization are leading to a situation of women and children trafficking from the Karamoja region. Livelihood insecurity, food insecurity, increased social tension, less access to useable water, decreased trade, decline in human health, increased poverty, decreased physical security, and increased migration.Forced displacement from Karamoja has clearly increased in the last couple of years because for over a decade now, Karimojong women and children have inundated the streets of major urban areas in Eastern Uganda and the capital city Kampala as beggars. According to United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Kampala City Council (KCC) about 80 per cent of Kampala's street beggars come from Karamoja. In many instances, women, particularly mothers have been found to be the key decision makers regarding out-migration. Women often made the decision to leave Karamoja with or without children, often because they were neglected or abused by a male relative or husband. To women, some of the immediate factors that compel them to move are: loss of livestock, poor harvests, abandonment or death of breadwinners or key family members, and the weakening or collapse of social safety nets. Those who are abandoned believe that they have no other recourse than to beg in Kampala. Many women become angry when their husband takes a new wife and take themselves and their children away. Others leave the region to escape arranged marriages. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is on the increase in Karamoja according to a report by UNFPA which states that thousands of girls aged 10-15 are being circumcised and forcefully married off. About 100% of the Pokot girls have undergone FGM exposing them to risks of HIV/AIDS, excessive bleeding and death.

Mycobacteria causing human cervical lymphadenitis in pastoral communities in the Karamoja region of Uganda

Mycobacteria from lymph node biopsies of patients with cervical lymphadenitis reporting for tuberculosis treatment in Matany and Moroto Hospitals in the transhumant areas of Karamoja, Uganda were isolated and characterized. The AccuProbe culture identification kits for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC), M. avium complex (MAC) and M. avium were used to identify the isolates. Spoligotyping, IS901 PCR and IS1311 and IS1245 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were used to characterize the isolates. Of the 43 biopsies, ten M. avium, seven M. tuberculosis, three M. bovis, and two M. intracellulare were isolated. Two isolates could not be identified with AccuProbe and from 19 samples no mycobacteria could be isolated. Three isolates with the Beijing spoligotype were identified from the seven M. tuberculosis isolates. The spoligopatterns of the M. bovis isolates had previously been detected in cattle in Uganda. Isolation of members of the MAC group reflects the complex interaction between the transhumant communities, water sources and their cattle. None of the M. avium isolates harboured IS901, and all showed several bands on IS1311 and IS1245 RFLP, in accordance with M. avium subsp. hominissuis. Composite dendrograms of IS1311 and IS1245 RFLP showed that the isolates were similar and identical patterns were found. The isolation of M. bovis confirms the human infection with zoonotic mycobacteria in areas where consumption of raw milk and meat is routine. Isolation of environmental mycobacteria also confirms their increasing role in human disease and the occupational risk of infection in the transhumant ecosystem in the absence of safe drinking water and environmental contamination.