Irish embassy says to strengthen Karamoja development journey

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Across Karamoja, communities have been involved in cycles of insecurity, low levels of education and effects of climate change. Others include health challenges and limited resources, which thus increase conflict in the region.

However, the Irish Embassy in Uganda, in collaboration with the Government of Uganda,  says it is determined to actively support Karamoja’s journey towards inclusive development.

The commitment was made on November 25-27, during a familiarisation tour of the region by the Irish ambassador to Uganda, Mags Gaynor.

Accompanied by the UN children agency (Unicef) team leader, Karamoja Ms Rebecca Kwagala, the group toured several ready-for-handover projects.

Initiatives needed 

Gaynor said Karamoja requires initiatives to fight climate change. Others are health services, better education and skilling in order for the region to achieve its potential, among other issues that affect the community.

She further added that in the future, the embassy could devise ways of handling the question of unpredictable weather because everyone speaks about it.

“So, as the Irish embassy, we shall continue supporting Karamoja’s journey towards development,” Gaynor said, adding that the contribution is already in 'our 2027 strategy'.

Looking at the projects supported by the embassy, she said she was hunting for results, adding that some were duly done, others the progress is quite low, while some have not taken off.

“The strategy is in place for Karamoja till 2027,” Gaynor said, adding that it cannot be changed now.

However, she said her tour aims at collecting evidence or lessons that will be used to design the next strategy that runs from 2028-2032.

“We need to understand a little more about what is happening in the region to fix in our plans for the next strategy,” Gaynor said.

According to the ambassador, before the embassy embarks on the new strategy for Karamoja, it will discuss the Government’s 10-year development plan for the region recently approved by the Government.

She appealed to the locals to always take pride in Karamoja, adding that Ireland will navigate a path where the region can take its own development journey.

Amudat transforms

Amudat district councillor for disabilities Dorcas Chelain, who represented LC5 boss Joseph Lobot, thanked the Irish embassy for the unrelenting support towards health, education, infrastructure and skilling.

Chelain said over a decade ago, literacy levels were at three percent but have since doubled, meaning the district is on the right track.

She appealed to the embassy to strengthen the school feeding programme, saying food was key in pushing education to the required heights.

The district education officer said due to a negative attitude towards education, parents do not allow their children, specifically boys, to come to school.

“They want to see the boys herding livestock,” he said, adding that those who escape and join school never drop out. 

The development partners like NAWOU also identified areas in which their organisations could contribute positively towards the development of the district and the region.

Jenipher Aguti, the executive director of the organization, said fighting female genital mutilation (FGM) has been a long journey.

“It’s been two steps ahead, one back during the struggle,” she noted, adding that reaching the girl-child to rescue her has been challenged at all times.

Thank you

Presiding over the validation tour in Amudat, Ass. Resident District Commissioner Regina Imoret congratulated the people of Ireland for sacrificing money to Uganda.

Meanwhile, on November 25, the endorsement exercise took the ambassador and her entourage to Kasimeri Primary School, where two classrooms had been built. The team also visited safe water installations within the community settlements.

The next day, the team visited Whitaker Youth’s Skilling Centre in Moroto Senior Quarters and later travelled to Amudat, 124 kilometres south of Moroto town.

At the local government headquarters, the ambassador held a meeting with heads of departments, development partners to understand district strategies, though Mags Gaynor remained unclear on the next action.

The ambassador was accompanied by Keelin O’Sulluvan, the deputy head of co-operation at the Irish embassy, who also toured Katikati Primary School.

She saw a new twin classroom block constructed by UNICEF with funding from the Irish embassy and witnessed the leavers having a hot meal under the school feeding programme.