These climatic changes are disrupting the traditional lifestyle of cattle keepers, especially the pastoralist majority, who for generations have relied on livestock as their main source of subsistence. Short scattered torrential rains have also heavily contributed to an increase in soil erosion and land degradation, which has contributed to poor harvests and food insecurity in Karamoja.
In October 2021, I made the journey of eight hours to Moroto town, to spend eight days moving with a group of herders as they went about their days.
It was an eye-opening experience being in the region for the first time. The daily life of Karamojong is quite different from what I or many of us are used to. They live in ‘kraals,’ or small homesteads, with thorny fences and blocks of wood encircled for protection against raids and wild animals that might attack their cattle. As early as 5 a.m., I was forced to wake up by the loud mooing sounds of cattle. Young boys between the ages of 6 and 10 are in charge of milking the cows, and it is amazing how fast they do it.
More scattered rains, but less water?
Despite the erratic heavy rains, there is still a lack of enough water resources for home use. Livestock can drink the surface water, unlike the pastoralists, since it can cause diseases.
A looming hunger crisis
Toward solutions, in an uncertain time
Amidst the challenges, several water sources and systems have been developed through government, NGO, and community efforts to help manage the crisis and climate variability.
At least six sources of water exist in the region, providing water for both human and livestock use: boreholes, windmills, ponds, valley dams, river beds, and rivers. During the desperate dry periods, people dig out sand in the river beds to reach the water.
Over the years, a series of valley dams have been constructed by the Ugandan government to provide continuous water for livestock and basic home use. These large-scale dams including Arecek-Nakicumet in Napak, Kobebe in Moroto, and Lomogol in Kotido, have also proved to be very useful in the region, especially in Moroto and Napak where the major dams have hardly dried since construction.
These climatic changes are disrupting the traditional lifestyle of cattle keepers, especially the pastoralist majority, who for generations have relied on livestock as their main source of subsistence. Short scattered torrential rains have also heavily contributed to an increase in soil erosion and land degradation, which has contributed to poor harvests and food insecurity in Karamoja.
In October 2021, I made the journey of eight hours to Moroto town, to spend eight days moving with a group of herders as they went about their days.
It was an eye-opening experience being in the region for the first time. The daily life of Karamojong is quite different from what I or many of us are used to. They live in ‘kraals,’ or small homesteads, with thorny fences and blocks of wood encircled for protection against raids and wild animals that might attack their cattle. As early as 5 a.m., I was forced to wake up by the loud mooing sounds of cattle. Young boys between the ages of 6 and 10 are in charge of milking the cows, and it is amazing how fast they do it.
More scattered rains, but less water?
Despite the erratic heavy rains, there is still a lack of enough water resources for home use. Livestock can drink the surface water, unlike the pastoralists, since it can cause diseases.
A looming hunger crisis
Toward solutions, in an uncertain time
Amidst the challenges, several water sources and systems have been developed through government, NGO, and community efforts to help manage the crisis and climate variability.
At least six sources of water exist in the region, providing water for both human and livestock use: boreholes, windmills, ponds, valley dams, river beds, and rivers. During the desperate dry periods, people dig out sand in the river beds to reach the water.
Over the years, a series of valley dams have been constructed by the Ugandan government to provide continuous water for livestock and basic home use. These large-scale dams including Arecek-Nakicumet in Napak, Kobebe in Moroto, and Lomogol in Kotido, have also proved to be very useful in the region, especially in Moroto and Napak where the major dams have hardly dried since construction.
These climatic changes are disrupting the traditional lifestyle of cattle keepers, especially the pastoralist majority, who for generations have relied on livestock as their main source of subsistence. Short scattered torrential rains have also heavily contributed to an increase in soil erosion and land degradation, which has contributed to poor harvests and food insecurity in Karamoja.
In October 2021, I made the journey of eight hours to Moroto town, to spend eight days moving with a group of herders as they went about their days.
It was an eye-opening experience being in the region for the first time. The daily life of Karamojong is quite different from what I or many of us are used to. They live in ‘kraals,’ or small homesteads, with thorny fences and blocks of wood encircled for protection against raids and wild animals that might attack their cattle. As early as 5 a.m., I was forced to wake up by the loud mooing sounds of cattle. Young boys between the ages of 6 and 10 are in charge of milking the cows, and it is amazing how fast they do it.
More scattered rains, but less water?
Despite the erratic heavy rains, there is still a lack of enough water resources for home use. Livestock can drink the surface water, unlike the pastoralists, since it can cause diseases.
A looming hunger crisis
Toward solutions, in an uncertain time
Amidst the challenges, several water sources and systems have been developed through government, NGO, and community efforts to help manage the crisis and climate variability.
At least six sources of water exist in the region, providing water for both human and livestock use: boreholes, windmills, ponds, valley dams, river beds, and rivers. During the desperate dry periods, people dig out sand in the river beds to reach the water.
Over the years, a series of valley dams have been constructed by the Ugandan government to provide continuous water for livestock and basic home use. These large-scale dams including Arecek-Nakicumet in Napak, Kobebe in Moroto, and Lomogol in Kotido, have also proved to be very useful in the region, especially in Moroto and Napak where the major dams have hardly dried since construction.