According to activists, widow inheritance has forced many women into unwanted marriages with their late spouse's brothers or sons from another wife. The women are now demanding the right to choose their partners after their husband's death.
From 2019 - 2023, UNICEF supported the government of Uganda with funding from the Korean government to implement a water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in schools Programme. The program supported 92 primary and 8 secondary schools across 9 districts of Karamoja
The major focus was on WASH Infrastructure, and behavior change promotion intervention that comprises of climate resilient water system benefiting schools and nearby communities.
The project will focus on fostering peaceful co-existence among cross-border communities and increasing incomes for vulnerable households through environmentally friendly livelihood options.
Among the key interventions of the project include the provision of water resources as an enabling dimension of peace and security, enhancing the functional capacity of peace committees, conducting community outreach on key developmental topics, facilitating cross-border cooperation, offering psycho-social support, implementing cash-for-work initiatives, delivering training in digital literacy and entrepreneurship, supporting small start-ups, providing vocational training for youth, refurbishing local economic centers, and integrating conflict-sensitive livelihood interventions into local government plans among others.
The project is expected to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change by utilizing trees to influence rainfall, maintain a clean environment, improve soil fertility, and prevent soil erosion.
Mark Aol Musoka, an elder appointed as the Minister for Peace and Security, notes that while the initiative was commendable, it was rushed and lacked comprehensive consultations. He expressed concerns that the institution's viability could be compromised due to this hurried decision-making process.
However, the initiative has met resistance from a section of Elders who have rejected the cultural institution, alleging that they need a lot of time to do consultations over the matter.
Twinomugisha stated that their main objective is to support children, particularly the most marginalized, who are disproportionately affected by climate change, to be part of the solution and influence decisions made by world and local leaders.
Dr Doreen Kobusingye, the co-principal investigator at LEMU says that it is never too late to organize the communities and empower them with legal approaches to protecting their land and avert those who seek to exploit people and their environment.
The analysis indicates that all nine districts of Karamoja, namely Kotido, Kaabong, Karenga, Nabilatuk, Abim, Moroto, Napak, Amudat, and Nakapiripirit, have been classified as IPC Phase 3. This classification signifies a crisis level of food insecurity, leading to a surge in malnutrition rates.
Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto regional police spokesperson, confirmed the arrests, stating that they were carried out in line with the presidential directives. Those involved in the charcoal trade will face charges for violating the Forestry Act, as guided by the National Environmental Management Authorities.
The most affected learners are girls aged between 7 and 12 years of age who are given additional responsibilities of caring for their young siblings while at school.
Rt Revd Joseph Abura, the bishop for Church of Uganda Karamoja diocese told URN that it is shameful to contain the young siblings at school because it frustrates the learning process for the caretaker.
Before the interventions, the girls who lacked access to safe water and sanitation faced significant at school which contributed to absenteeism and poor performances.
The farmers are currently carrying out preparations of their gardens as the entire Karamoja is predicted to have enhanced rainfall from March to May, according to the UNMA forecast.
Dr. Paul Okullo, the Director of Research at Nabuin Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute says that they have distributed crops that take a short period to mature to help farmers to cope with the weather pattern of the region.
Brig Gen Joseph Balikudembe, the UPDF 3rd Division Commander says they have launched operations against people who are burning charcoal in the bushes in order to frustrate their plans for the warriors to raid people’s livestock.
Karamoja region is currently dry and pastoralists have resorted to burning the bushes to facilitate rat hunting, tick killing and to allow fresh grass sprout for their animals.
Research shows that most of the households in the region have depleted their essential livelihood assets, including consuming seed stocks to cope with the situation partly brought about by the erratic effects of a changing climate. Children in the region are malnourished and many, on a daily basis are succumbing to starvation.
