Invest more in women so Karamoja can feed itself

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OPINION

By Mercy Akankunda

In Karamoja, hunger often begins with silence, not from the people, but from the skies. When the rains fail, seeds dry in the soil, pastures disappear, and herds, central to survival, die off. In this harsh climate, women carry the heaviest burden of hunger, loss, and resilience.

When climate betrays a way of life

For generations, communities in Karamoja have depended on agro-pastoralism, balancing crop cultivation and cattle rearing. But the climate has changed. According to a 35-year study cited by the United Nations, the region is experiencing increasingly erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and rising temperatures, patterns that have devastated food and livestock production.

Poverty levels in Karamoja are staggering. The Uganda National Household Survey 2023/24 reports that poverty in the region stands at 74.2%, compared to the national average of 16.1%. Youth are especially vulnerable, with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) estimating that 84% of young people in Karamoja live in multidimensional poverty.

When cattle die, women lose their safety net. No milk, no income, no food. Without livestock, mothers cannot barter, feed children, or sustain their homes. The hunger that follows is not just physical; it is social, economic, and emotional.

Women: First to suffer, last to be helped

Karamoja’s women are the frontline responders in the survival struggle. They plant crops, fetch water, care for children, and manage meagre resources. Yet they remain largely excluded from decision-making, policy development, and climate resilience programming.

According to UNDP, some initiatives are starting to turn the tide. In Moroto and Nakapiripirit, the Green Belts Project is helping women’s groups grow climate-resilient crops like sorghum and legumes, supported by training, equipment, and access to water through solar-powered irrigation systems. These projects prove that women can lead recovery if given the tools and space.

However, these efforts are far from widespread. A recent assessment by the World Food Programme found that many households in Karamoja are unaware of climate adaptation techniques or early warning systems, limiting their ability to prepare or recover from drought.

In response, women have turned to traditional knowledge systems. For instance, in areas like Lokopo, they use ash and soap mixtures to manage pests in dry-season gardens, an innovation born of necessity, but one that demands external support to scale.

What must be done

To break the cycle of climate-driven hunger and support women’s resilience, Uganda must act boldly and locally.

• Expand water access and irrigation. According to UNDP, piped water systems have already improved access in selected sub-counties. Expanding such systems, along with boreholes and small-scale irrigation powered by solar energy, will allow women to grow food even when rains fail.
• Support women-led agriculture. Scaling up projects like the Green Belts Initiative can empower women to grow food for their families and markets. Providing drought-tolerant seeds, tractors, extension services, and financial training ensures that women are not just producers but entrepreneurs.
• Restore pastures and soils. With livestock mortality on the rise, the government and NGOs must invest in pasture regeneration and climate-smart farming methods to protect both animals and land. Soil conservation techniques and sustainable grazing plans can help reduce long-term vulnerability.
• Train and inform communities. Climate information must reach the last mile. According to reports, very few households receive reliable weather forecasts or know how to use them. Training women as climate information agents and promoting local language forecasts can empower entire communities.
• Place women at the policy table. Women’s voices must be central in shaping local adaptation strategies. From village councils to national boards, inclusive decision-making is essential. Women know what works; they have been adapting for years with limited resources.

Karamoja stands at a crossroads. Left unaddressed, climate change will continue to unravel lives and livelihoods. But with the right investments, especially in women’s resilience, the region can thrive.

Invest in women-led solutions and climate-smart systems to secure Karamoja’s future. The time for bold, local action is now.

The writer is with Proven Foundation

Mercyakankunda124@gmail.com