The Government of Uganda, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and development partners have initiated consultations on a five-year programme to advance livestock transformation, peacebuilding, and resilience in the Karamoja sub-region.
The proposed initiative, Integrated Livestock Development, Peacebuilding and Resilience Enhancement for Sustainable Livelihoods in Karamoja (ILPRE-Karamoja), was unveiled on Friday 14th August 2026 during the National Consultative Workshop on the Joint Karamoja Programme convened by the IGAD Mission to Uganda in Naguru, Kampala. Implementation is scheduled from January 2027 to December 2031.
Presiding over the workshop, Ms. Joselyn Bigirwa, Head of the IGAD Mission to Uganda, stated that ILPRE-Karamoja emanates from engagements between IGAD Executive Secretary H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu and Gen. Salim Saleh, and from subsequent guidance from the Office of the President. She noted that the programme seeks to consolidate and scale gains achieved under the IGAD Drylands Strategy and the 14-year Karamoja Integrated Development Programme.
Ms. Bigirwa outlined five strategic pillars: enhanced livestock productivity, sustainable cross-border management of grazing lands and water resources, conflict prevention, strengthened market systems, and improved land-use governance. She emphasized targeted inclusion of youth and women, and reiterated that communities must be positioned as active drivers rather than passive recipients of development.
Implementation will be anchored within national frameworks, specifically the Karamoja Integrated Development Programme and the Fourth National Development Plan. IGAD will coordinate with Operation Wealth Creation, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ms. Bigirwa chairs a multi-agency technical steering committee comprising Dr. Dominic Kathiya Lokeris of the IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD), Dr. Geofrey Sabbitti of the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), Mr. Denis Kibuuka (Monitoring and Evaluation), Mr. Andrew Malinga of the Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (CEWARN), Mr. Innocent Ndahirwe (Forced Displacement and Migration), Dr. Sylvia Henga (Food Policy), and Mr. Ismail Garo (Trade).
The Chair of the Karamoja Development Partners Group reaffirmed integrated livestock development, peacebuilding, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods as funding priorities. Partners were urged to transcend conventional livestock interventions and invest in animal health, water infrastructure, rangeland management, value addition, and market access. The Chair underscored that peace and social cohesion are prerequisites for communities to access markets, education, and health services.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Edith Namutebi Nsubuga, Head of the Peace and Security Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed Government’s commitment to stability in Karamoja and other border regions. She stated that the Ministry’s mandate includes safeguarding Uganda’s international reputation and fostering regional stability, both critical to achieving Vision 2040. She observed that durable security and economic transformation are mutually reinforcing. “Government remains committed to providing an enabling security environment so that development actors can prioritize livelihoods and resilience,” Dr. Namutebi Nsubuga stated.
She reflected on past interventions, noting that while the Karamoja Integrated Development Programme attracted substantial investment, outcomes warrant improved coordination, sharper prioritization, and stronger accountability. She called for consolidation around fewer high-impact interventions and for follow-up on previous feasibility studies by the Ministry of Water and Environment. She cited adaptation successes in comparable arid contexts as benchmarks for ambition.
Dr. Namutebi Nsubuga identified four immediate priorities: enhanced synergy between security and development actors; deliberate mindset change to foster ownership; accelerated economic empowerment to reduce aid dependency; and disciplined implementation within the 2027–2031 timeframe.
Ms. Brenda Apio, Senior Economist at the National Planning Authority, presented the Karamoja Regional Development Plan, approved by Cabinet on 21st July 2025. The 10-year plan seeks to transition Karamoja from a nomadic and agro-pastoral economy to a settled, commercially viable one by 2035. The plan responds to challenges highlighted in the 2023/24 National Household Survey, including a poverty rate of 74.2 percent, pervasive food insecurity, and infrastructure deficits.
Valued at Shs 15.1 trillion, the plan proposes flagship investments including Kidepo International Airport, an industrial park and cement plants in Moroto, meat and hides processing in Kotido, and a Karamoja Peace and Technology University. Complementary proposals include expanded boarding facilities for universal primary and secondary education, subsidized tertiary tuition for Karimojong students, and a dedicated water budget for the sub-region.
Mr. Rony Oved, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AgroMax Uganda Ltd, showcased a community-driven model through the Sustainable Business Development Initiative (SBDI). Modelled on cooperative, mechanized agriculture, SBDI operates across 11 villages and 370 households in Nakapiripirit District.
Citing Ms. Betty Iriama, Treasurer and Lead Artisan of the Tokora Community Association, he noted that following the conclusion of NUSAF III, community members deployed proceeds from agriculture to rehabilitate tractors and water infrastructure, sustaining operations without external support. Five years post-project, the enterprises remain viable, remunerate members, maintain assets, and continue to attract partnerships. He argued that this demonstrates the viability of locally owned institutions when foundational systems are established.
Participants concluded that ILPRE-Karamoja, aligned with the Regional Development Plan, offers a coherent framework to transform Karamoja through productive livestock systems, conflict mitigation, and resilient livelihoods, provided interventions are prioritized, coordinated, and community-led.
