“What are we doing to support the transformation of raiding routes into corridors for peace and production in Karamoja?”
Background
• The underdevelopment Nexus of poverty, marginalization and conflict.
• The Karimojong occupy the peripheral semi-arid region of Uganda.
• It is the most underdeveloped region and has historically been a marginalized region in Uganda.
• Another distinctive feature of this region is that it is one of the most conflict-prone zones in Uganda.
• It has experienced two types of conflicts: ethnic identity and resource based conflict which has
in the whole led to criminality that progressively paralyzed the region.
The Problem Analysis:
• Cyclic violent conflict:
• Militarization and use of force to make peace in the Karamoja region
• Poor access to basic services
• Limitations in Existing National & Local Policy Frameworks.
• Persistent Limitations In Government Policies And Programmes
Limited Constructive Engagement of Customary institutions in peace and security Matters of Karamoja
• The lack of harmonization of formal and customary governance systems
• International and historical dimensions of the Karamoja Problem Attempts To Address The Links Between Insecurity And Poverty In Karamoja
• UPDF has been deployed in Karamoja region to undertake a comprehensive disarmament exercise
• Police and other law enforcement agencies are being rolled back to sub-county levels.
• NGOs/UN Agencies moving in and Social service delivery expanding.
Constitution of Uganda (1995) Article 209.
Functions of the defence forces. The functions of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces are:
(a) to preserve and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda
(b) to cooperate with the civilian authority in emergency situations and in cases of natural disasters;
(c) to foster harmony and understanding between the defence forces and civilians
Primary objectives of the Disarmament process in Karamoja:
Disarm all illegal guns from the hands of armed Karimojong civilians.
Secondary objective
- Establish security in all highways in Karamoja.
- Provide security for humanitarian access within Karamoja.
- Support the establishment of rule of law by the civilian Uganda Police Force and Justice Institutions.
- Contain international cross border illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.
- Secure all the twelve neighbouring districts against armed Karamojong raids and cattle thefts.
Save the Children in Uganda Project Components
Component 1: Managing Pastoralist Mobility
Increasing access to opportunities for children and
youth in mobile communities in Karamoja
Component 2: Provision and Promotion of alternative livelihood options for the youth
Component 3: Enhancing peace building initiatives in Karamoja
Component 4: Promoting Civil Military liaison for Peace and Development
Component 5: Strengthening Child Protection structures and mechanisms
Under its Young Professionals Program (YPP), AFLI is collaborating with Save the Children in Uganda
by providing 10 Karimojong speaking graduates (Volunteers / Project Assistants), undertaking periodic
joint field supervision visits and on spot strategic advice to accelerate the successful implementation of this program.
