Government committed to developing Karamoja

Jun 28, 2011

THE First Lady and Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Janet Museveni, has re-affirmed the Government’s commitment to the pacification and development of Karamoja.

By Vision reporter

THE First Lady and Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Janet Museveni, has re-affirmed the Government’s commitment to the pacification and development of Karamoja.

She said the Government’s resolve to restore Karamoja to its dignity, however, required synergy of all actors in the region.

Mrs. Museveni said mechanisms to ensure coordination of the many actors in the seven districts of Karamoja sub-region had been put in place.

She made the remarks while delivering a report on the developments in Karamoja to the 5th PRDP monitoring committee meeting on Monday at Hotel Africana in Kampala.

The developments include the Karamoja Regional Council, the Karamoja Integrated Disarmament and Development Programme Policy Committee and establishment of an office in Moroto to enable onspot coordination.

Mrs. Museveni said the Government had made great strides in upscaling interventions to address water scarcity, food insecurity, insecurity and poverty in the region.

She highlighted the parish dam project, and the rehabilitation and construction of boreholes in the entire Karamoja region.

Mrs. Museveni also said the tractor hire scheme, which has enabled the opening up of 8,496 acres of land, is one of the success stories which are continuing.

She reiterated that the disarmament and pacification of Karamoja is progressing.

Mrs. Museveni said cross- border joint disarmaments organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Kenyan government have led to the reduction of cross-border raids.

This, she said, ensured relative peace and harmony among the communities.

Religious leaders, the civil society and Karimojong elders have all been brought on board in mobilising the people for peace, Mrs. Museveni said.

She said the cattle branding exercise had brought new hope for the people to be able to trace their animals.

“Even at the marketplace, anybody who takes an animal without an ear tag is questioned,” Mrs. Museveni added.

On efforts to eradicate poverty, Mrs. Museveni reported that Government was in the process of restocking animals through women groups in each parish to reinforce cattle keeping alongside food production as a means of improving household incomes.

She, however, appealed to the district leaders to ensure that the NAADS programme, which empowers 100 households per parish, is properly managed to benefit the communities in Karamoja.

Mrs. Museveni said the Government, in collaboration with UNICEF and GIZ, was planning a comprehensive approach to rehabilitate and resettle Karimojong street children.

She appealed to all leaders to join this endeavour so as to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Mrs. Museveni said issues that still need major Government action include construction of roads, extension of electricity to Karamoja, attracting skilled personnel to work in the area and resettling street children.


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