Windle International Uganda in partnership with Convoy of Hope has launched a one-year project aims to address the underlying problems of hunger and malnutrition among children. On Thursday, the schools received the supplies of posho, beans, sugar, and fortified food supplements.
In 2023, Kapelebyong authorities banned Karamojong pastoralists from entering the district due to escalating violence. However, the communities came together for a peace dialogue on Monday in Ayepenes village, Kapelebyong, where they resolved to unite as one Ateker community.
The 10-kilometer roads are part of the 2500 kilometers of community access roads to be constructed to ease the transportation of produce, improve access to markets, and boost oil seed production. The roads to be graded shall be Acoricol - Kalodung which covers 6 kilometers and the second road will be Acoricol to Lorengecora town council.
Deusdedit Kateregga, the Medical Superintendent said that they currently have a debt of 100 million shilling for the last financial year of 2023/24. Kateregga said that the accumulated arrears are from different suppliers and they do have not enough resources to clear the arrears yet more costs are adding up.
Betty Napeyok, the headteacher of Longalom Primary School, said they are struggling to get higher enrollment due to the alleged scholarship offers from the nearby school. She explained that the rumor affected their enrollment, with many parents withdrawing their children. "
Many boreholes in the area have either malfunctioned or have seen a significant drop in water levels due to the ongoing dry spell, leaving the community struggling for clean water.
The district faces severe water shortages during the dry season as water levels drop down. At least only 65 percent of the population in Napak district has access to safe drinking water.
The worst-hit sub-counties include Matany, Lorengecora Town Council, Lopei, Lokopo, and Matany town council.
Elephantiasis is among the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) reported in the subcounties of Nabwal, Apeitolim, Poron, Lorengecora, and Iriiri. The communities live in the district's wet belt, which attracts mosquitoes that spread the infections.
Michael Longole, the Mt. Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson, said traffickers have taken advantage of these panya routes to secretly transport children out of Karamoja. Longole added that while security checkpoints are in place along major highways, the children’s tactics allow them to circumvent these measures.
Many of these children have been placed in lower primary and Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers integrated into the host schools. Lodoi Primary School has the youngest resettled children, aged between 1-4 years, enrolled in the ECD section, while Lotome Girls has 128 children in Primary 1.
The most affected sub-counties include Poron, Lorenchora, and Achukudu, which do not have any health facilities. Residents have to walk for 45 kilometres to access a nearby facility from the next sub-county.
Dr. Timothy Teko, the Napak District Health Officer, reported that the confirmed cases were registered in the sub-counties of Lopei, Matany, Ngoleriet, Iriiri, and Lokopo.
Joyce Nakoya, the Napak District Education Officer, said there is no clear, sustainable support for the children’s feeding program. She said that although the district wrote to the Office of the Prime Minister for food support, they are yet to receive feedback regarding their plea.
John Mark Lokiru, an elder from Lotisan Sub County in Moroto District, stated that they have initiated sensitization campaigns to change the mindset of elders regarding these negative cultural norms. “We are the custodians of the culture, and we shall lead dialogues to sensitize communities and denounce these negative practices,” Lokiru explained.
Margaret Abura, the head teacher of Lotome Girls Primary School, mentioned that the school has children under the age of five, and they are struggling to cater to them. Abura explained that these younger children are often mixed with those above six years old, which disrupts the learning process.
Dr Munir who has been in the International Service for 31 years has ended his professional journey in Uganda after spending over four years as a UNICEF country representative. Dr.Munir retires and will honorably return to his motherland - Sudan.
Lt Col Morris Twongyeirwe, the Training and Operations Officer at UPDF 403 Brigade, while speaking to patriots observed that the warriors have resorted to recruiting students whom they know are desperately looking for school pocket money.
Robert Abia Owilli, the Napak Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, noted that in traditional African society, children were considered the responsibility of the entire community. However, this trend has changed, negatively impacting the children. He highlighted that high illiteracy levels and negative attitudes towards education have encouraged street life among children.
According to UCOBAC, the attempts by rural women to claim their rights have been mistakenly seen as a power struggle and lack of discipline by their men resulting in gender-based violence.
Geoffrey Onying, the UCOBAC project officer based in Napak district noted that the distorted social norms and harmful practices coupled with limited awareness of women's rights are factors that continue to disenfranchise women from realizing their land and property rights.
