In an attempt to speed up the pacification process in the Karamoja sub-region, the Government through the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has flagged off a total of 97,555 iron sheets to be distributed in the area. 

The relief is meant for nine districts of the region including Kotido, Kaabong, Karenga, Nabilatuk, Abim, Moroto, Napak, Amudat and Nakapiripirit.  

The iron sheets, according to the plan, are meant to be distributed to a total of 3,752 people, with each beneficiary receiving 26 pieces. 20 are meant to be used to cover the main house, four for the kitchen, and two for the latrine.

In 2021, the Government approved a budget of sh39b to procure relief items to empower the local communities in the Karamoja region to fight insecurity and poverty.  

This saw a batch flagged off for distribution, but that exercise was short-lived after New Vision’s exposé that implicated several people including high-ranking government officials in the diversion of the iron sheets. 

Since then, three Government officials including Karamoja affairs minister Goretti Kitutu, her junior minister Agnes Nandutu, and finance state minister Amos Lugolobi, have been charged over allegedly diverting the relief items. 

Speaking during the flagging off ceremony at OPM stores in Namanve, Wakiso District, on Wednesday, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja said the Government has since 2007 put in place affirmative action to contribute to human security, and also ensure socio-economic development in the region. 

Nabbanja said that the distribution was a continuation process of the programme that has been ongoing since its inception in 2007. The distribution, she said, was meant for reformed disarmed raiders who she said had given back their guns to the Government in support of peace and development.

The relief support, Nabbanja said, was to help integrate them (disarmed Karimajongs) into their communities and also sustain them economically. 

“With the guidance of the President, we are delivering these iron sheets to help reformed warriors integrate back into their respective communities. We are delivering the iron sheets directly to respective districts to avoid cases of theft and corruption,” Nabbanja said. 

Nabbanja further explained that the programme will help the people in the region build back stronger after a long series of disasters such as war, raids and drought. She noted that measures have been put in place to ensure safety. 

“We direct that district security committees who verified the beneficiaries to use the same list during distribution. They should be supported by local leaders and elders of the region to ensure safety.”

The flagging-off ceremony was also witnessed by several dignitaries including Karamoja affairs state minister Agnes Nandutu, Karamoja region MPs led by Remigo Achia, the chairman of the Karamoja Parliamentary Group and other officials from OPM. 

According to Nandutu, the Karamoja region should use the items to engage in economic development programmes, arguing that the Government loves them and has better plans to speed their transformation socially, economically and socially. 

Upon witnessing the flag-off, MP Achia appreciated the Government for the support and noted that the region has transformed over the years, attributing the shift to President Museveni’s plans which he described as “positive for development”. 

“We are grateful that the Government has always put us as the number one priority. We are ready to develop and our people are pro-peace,” Achia said. 

The distribution is set to begin next week, and according to the plan, it will be completed within a space of two weeks.