Kalip book for sharing

Office of the Prime Minister

KALIP Key data Financing Agreement:

UG/FED/2008/020-280

Fund allocation by results (Millions€) Total Funding € 15,000,000

FA signature date:

9 March 2009

Implementation

1 July 2010 to 30 November 2014

Closure period:

1 December 2014 – 8 March 2015

Expiry operational period:

8 March 2015

Funding agency:

European Union 10th European Development Fund

Contracting Authority:

Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development

Programme Supervisor:

Office of the Prime Minister

Support to local governments

Imprest Administrator:

Office of the Prime Minister

14%

Imprest Accounting Officer

Cardno Emerging Markets (UK) Ltd

Total funding:

€15,000,000

Agro-pastoral production and animal health Safety nets- Labour intensive works

€2.52 17%

€5.52 37%

€2.13

Programme management

€3.49 23%

Objectives of KALIP Objective levels

KALIP objective descriptions

Goal

Promote development as an incentive to peace by supporting livelihoods including agro-pastoral production and alternative income generation opportunities for the people of Karamoja.

Purpose

Protect and enhance incomes and food security of the agro-pastoral communities and support them in building up their productive asset base.

Results

Result 1: Productive assets built through labour intensive works and capital injected into the local economy.

Result 2: Agro-pastoral production improved and alternative means of livelihoods promoted.

Result 3: Local government strengthened Result 4: Peace building initiatives supported

Civil society peace building fund

€1.34 9%

Inside....

Foreword - Rt Hon Ruhakana Rugunda... ii A word from the Minister - Hon Janet Kataaha Museveni... iv Office of the Prime Minister New Government Building, Apollo Kagwa Road, Kampala Website: www.opm.nulep.org Publishing Consultant: Hai Agency Uganda

INTRODUCTION

KALIP – Food and Farming, Prosperity and Peace.... 1

Editorial Team: Alastair Taylor Irene Lamunu Reint Bakema Emmanuel Iyamulemye Niyibigira

01

Building Productive Assets .... 4 02

Design/layout Peter Mugeni Wanyama slickrep256@gmail.com

Increasing farmer productivity .... 18

February 2015

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This book has been produced by the Government of Uganda with funding from the 10th European Development Fund. The contents of this book does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

KALIP was implemented with technical assistance of

04

Strengthening Local Government .... 30

Supporting community policing .... 42

Foreword by the Prime Minister Karamoja has changed. After the successful disarmament in 2007-2009, the Government of Uganda (GoU) recognised that Karamoja was ready for the great leap forward. Together with the European Union it developed the â‚Ź15 million (51 billion shillings) Karamoja Livelihoods Programme (KALIP). KALIP sought to support the process of uplifting the livelihoods of the people of Karamoja. This is not an easy task. Karamoja, although not a desert, is prone to scarce, scattered and erratic rainfall; and unstable soils that are easily washed away. Karamoja also lacked the dense network of government offices, staff and services that we take for granted in other regions.

There is a lot to do in Karamoja before it is indeed on a par with the rest of Uganda.

T

he good news is that the people of Karamoja, although mainly cattle keepers, are as well enthusiastic farmers of sorghum, maize and pearl millet when the weather is right. With peace and security assured, many farmers of Karamoja have had the confidence to move away from the large manyattas, which had Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) protection, to smaller villages where cropping can be intensified and animals taken to new grazing areas.

KALIP was designed to make a difference, and it did! After its four years of implementation there is hardly a corner of the region where its influence has not been felt. We estimate that KALIP had a direct impact on at least 20% of the population of Karamoja.

KALIP was implemented within my Ministry –

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Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) - and the day to day management was handled by a dedicated OPM staff team making up the Programme Management Unit (PMU) under the able supervision of the Permanet Secretary Mrs Christine Guwatudde Kintu.

I am fortunate to have an extremely committed and knowledgeable Minister to lead the OPM actions in Karamoja, Hon Janet Museveni, and she has reported to me that she has been very happy with KALIP, with clear results being seen on the ground and lasting outcomes already starting to have an impact.

KALIP was driven by good national policies and responded to the livelihood needs presented by community members. Water for livestock, roads to markets, stores for grains, training of farmers,

treatment of livestock, infrastructure development and community policing were all part of KALIP. Indeed, we have done a lot in 4 years and I thank all the partners with whom we have worked. Together with all my colleagues in OPM, I am committed to continue, and complete, the excellent work that KALIP has established. The stories contained within this book speak for themselves and are a testimony to the impact KALIP has had in Karamoja. Enjoy the read.

Rt Hon Ruhakana Rugunda Prime Minister

KALIP was designed to make a difference, and it did. After its four years of implementation there is hardly a corner of the region where its influence has not been felt.

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

iii

A word from the Minister

W

hen I was appointed to serve as a Minister for Karamoja Affairs in 2009, many people considered Karamoja as a wild, unproductive and dangerous place.

However I personally believed that the Karimojong are no different from any other people in Uganda and that Karamoja has the same desire for peace and prosperity like any other part of Uganda. I also knew that Karamoja is endowed with fertile soils and good weather and that it can largely feed itself instead of depending on relief handouts and humanitarian aid.

Now, 5 years later, I have been proven right.

Karamoja is on the move. The violence has stopped and the Karimojong are eagerly embracing the peace and security that was brought about by disarmament and dialogue.

People are now growing their own food to feed their families and sell for income, taking care of their livestock, sending their children to school, and are looking for ways and means to push ahead in life.

The development we see today is the result of strategies and investments by the government and its development partners on household food security, social service provision, and the rule of law. But more importantly, it is the result of the hard work of the Karimojong themselves, who have become the drivers of their own development.

The Karamoja Livelihoods Programme (KALIP) is one of the government interventions which made a difference in Karamoja. KALIP interventions addressed four critical areas.

It assisted farmers with farm tools and knowledge to grow

iv

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

crops and improve livestock; built productive infrastructure to support farming; strengthened the local government to deliver advisory services to farmers and supported peace and security. I am pleased to note that the funds from the European Union have resulted in clear outputs that are visible for everyone in every part of Karamoja.

I am proud of the achievements of KALIP. In four years, KALIP has become a good friend to many people in Karamoja. There are many positive stories about what KALIP has done.

KALIP has shown that with the help of a cooperative development partner, we can together achieve good results in a short time. I thank the European Union, the hardworking and dedicated team and above all, the people of Karamoja for bringing this positive change.

Janet K. Museveni

Minister for Karamoja Affairs

KALIP implementation area 36°0'0"E

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Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

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7

Introduction

KALIP – Food and Farming, Prosperity and Peace

A Time for Change Karamoja Livelihoods Programme (KALIP) was inspired by the realisation that the Karamoja region of Uganda has for long remained wallowing in its conflict ridden past and this has stifled development, but that the region was now entering a new season of peace, security and development. Thanks to the Government of Uganda’s (GoU) disarmament programme, illegal guns have disappeared from the region, cattle raiding has been made a thing of the past and people have begun moving out across the region to locations which had previously been abandoned due to community fear of insecurity. As it happened, this peace was also accompanied by a period of sufficient rains, and although the area will only very slowly move out of its risk prone environment in regard to the weather, at least for some years the animals flourished and crop harvests were sufficient. The local people believe that Akuj (God in Ngakarimojong), has pardoned the Karimojong since their guns went silent and brought blessing in response to the peaceful situation, and the people are celebrating!

K

ALIP, a €15,000,000 GoU programme funded by the European Union, was designed to support this changing situation and stimulate further development through providing productive assets that will help the agro-pastoral communities to build their livelihoods on a firm foundation.

To achieve this, KALIP collectively worked with government departments, non-governmental organisations and private companies. These

partners took part in supporting crop and livestock production through the provision of “Productive assets,” training members of the 440 Agro-Pastoral Field Schools (APFS) in modern agronomic and livestock practices and equipping community based para-vets – locally referred to as the “Community Animal Health Workers” (CAHWs). These specialised components of APFS facilitation and CAHW development were ably implemented through the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). KALIP also strengthened the capacity Kaigensi vally tank during construction

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

1

through the community policing approach.

Karamoja is therefore covered with the various projects implemented by KALIP. In fact, it is almost impossible to move to any corner of region without coming across a KALIP supported asset such as a valley tank, water pond, feeder road, grain store, drying slab, production office or police post. In all cases KALIP sought to leave assets that were fully functional and hence the production offices and police posts were supplied with solar power, furniture, transport provision - cars for the district offices and motorcycles for the sub counties and police posts – staff capacity building and in the case of the production offices, IT equipment including computers, printers, internet connectivity, cameras, GPS handsets and photocopiers (for the district offices).

of the Production and Marketing Amudat Subcounty Department staff of local government before and after to be able to better plan, monitor KALIP support. and coordinate the activities of production actors, as well as providing agricultural extension services to the farmers. Finally, being a post conflict community, the people of Karamoja were supported in working more closely with the Uganda Police Force (UPF) to restore law and order in the communities

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Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

In the same spirit of providing functional support, CAHWs were equipped with the essential veterinary kits and a bicycle to help them move around and the 240 new APFS groups were supplied with oxen and ox-ploughs to help them with land opening. Given the training that the APFS members received in modern crop management, these groups were also provided with assortment of high quality improved seeds from the agricultural research institute of Nabuin which is located in Karamoja.

Our Story KALIP/ASB Naronit Village Pond, Lotome SC, Napak District – Okeeda Alice is a member of a community neighbouring Naronit village pond that use the water to irrigate vegetable gardens.

They use the treddle pump to extract the water from the pond, but prefer using a hose for watering rather than the drip irrigation system also supplied. The group has 30 members, but only 20 are active in their vegetable gardens and each of these works on individual vegetable plots.

Okeeda used the vegetables she grew for home use, but also managed to sell some and made 30,000 from her last crop of tomatoes.

All actions of KALIP were implemented within a focus on “Disaster Risk Reduction” (DRR), an approach that recognises the vulnerability of the area to natural disasters. KALIP’s response to this situation was to ensure that its projects provided “Safety Nets” which helped communities cope with the effects of severe drought periods or disease outbreaks, such that the improved crop and livestock production would not be lost. Examples of the Productive Assets mentioned above which act as safety nets in providing a more secure base to production include water catchment to support crops and livestock (e.g. valley tanks, valley dams, micro dams, village ponds, rain water jars, rock catchments, boreholes and sub surface dams), tree planting to protect the environment, crop stores to better preserve seeds and the use of Cash for Work (CfW) payments for community participation in Labour Intensive Works (LIWs) to give a boost to the local economy. In turn, this cash, allowed the promotion of Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) where small groups of community members could save some of the money they earned from CfW or other sources and

then take out loans to support essential household needs, more equipment to enhance their farming or capital to start up small business ventures.

Between July 2010 and November 2014, KALIP has steadily created impact across Karamoja and this book contains a collection of stories that demonstrate the success of these actions from the viewpoint of the beneficiaries of KALIP interventions. It is hoped that you enjoy the testimonies contained in this book, but would also take the chance to travel to Karamoja and see for yourself a region of Uganda where change, and more so transformation, is happening!

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

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01

Building Productive Assets Drying sorghum on a slab built by Mercy Coorps

Outputs on productive assets Output

Planned

Revised

Achieved

Water ponds

920

285

203

Irrigation kits

108

77

42

Boreholes

0

14

14

Cattle troughs

94

108

110

26,706

32,942

32,942

Feeder roads

Improved Seeds (Kgs)

262

196

194

Grain stores

22

22

22

Drying slabs

71

72

72

Trees planted

72,250

50,900

67,148

Soil conservation (gabions)

3,043

793

VSLA savings CfW payments Valley Tanks

W

624 253,381,400

make farming more resilient to natural disasters such as drought. They were to construct these assets – ponds, roads, stores, soil conservation structures, etc through the use of LIWs and CfW which would in turn satisfy the second part of KALIP’s objective, which was to “inject cash into the local economy.” This was no easy challenge for the NGOs, but by the end of their implementation period they had worked with over 140,000 people and paid out over 2.1 billion shillings as CfW payments.

However, to meet the GoU challenge of providing at least one valley tank per parish,

2,156,652,725 21

ater is Life”is a common slogan and this is clearly evident in Karamoja where rains are often erratic. Heavy downpours interspersed with long dry spells is followed, at the end of the growing season, by a long dry spell that can last from November until March or April of the following year. During this period only the more drought resistant plants remain green and much of the a pastoralists time is spent moving the livestock in search of pasture and water. Traditionally, the Karimojong used to move freely throughout the region and even into neighbouring districts, but now such movement is controlled to avoid possibility of tribal tensions and conflict. But water and fodder are still

23

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required. So the GoU has a target of encouraging more reliable crop farming to supplement the nutrients from animals and provide water that will last a dry season at parish level. Later, much larger dams within each subcounty will be constructed, once resources permit.

KALIP worked with three NGOs; Mercy Corps (in Kaabong and Kotido), ASB (in Moroto, Napak and Abim) and DanChurchAid (Nakapiripirit and Amudat) who were the successful organisations from those who responded to KALIP Call for Proposals. The challenge before these NGOs was to mobilise communities to construct productive assets that would support increased crop production and Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

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Our Story

Left: Hon Babra Nekesa, Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs commissions the Amudat Town Council Production Office.

KALIP/Mercy Corps – Kangole South Drying Slab, Karenga SC, Kaabong District. Nakiru Sarah thanks KALIP for constructing a drying slab in her village. The slab has been such a big help to her as stones do not mix with her crop and the rate of drying is also much faster, especially for green leaves. She comes to the slab early and leaves her broom to reserve her space and once the sun is stronger she returns to spread her crop. The community share the slab according to demand.

Often, the demand is too high and some users have purchased a tarpaulin which they spread next to the slab to increase the drying space. She hopes that KALIP might be able to build a store for her village in the future.

KALIP had to move away from LIWs and look to mechanised construction as the excavations were too large and deep to be done by hand.

KALIP assigned this work to MWE/DWD that had implemented similar works in Karamoja previously. Through an MoU between Office of the Prime Minister and MWE, 23 valley tanks were constructed throughout Karamoja.

Rock catchment surface protected with stone wall

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Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

Water on your doorstep!

“Naikosowan villagers used to walk four kilometres to the River Omaniman in search of water during the dry season and once there they would have to dig deep holes in the sand from which to extract water for their animals. It is hard work and people don’t like sharing their watering holes with others” says Cecilia Lokut, a resident of Naikosowan Village, Napak District.

K

aramoja is known for its long dry spells and recurrent droughts. This is not different for the residents of Naikosowan village in Lotome sub-county, Napak district. During such periods livestock keepers have to walk long distances with their animals in search of pasture and water.

Cecilia Lokut has lived in Naikosowan village for 41 years and has witnessed such droughts occurring at regular intervals in recent times thus forcing men to go off with animals in search of water and grazing land.

A major policy focus of the Minister for Karamoja Affairs (MoKA) is to expand Water for Production (WfP) infrastructure to all parishes in Karamoja.

KALIP supported this effort through building valley tanks, sub surface dams, ponds and other structures to retain water for livestock production, including the Naikosowan Valley dam which was built using a mix of LIWs and mechanisation under the supervision of KALIP partner

Abeiter Samariter Bund (ASB).

For this, the community has a united voice in thanking KALIP and ASB for the provision of the valley tank. Labour for the construction of the dam was sourced from the community and payment was on the basis of work done. Veronica Angolere was hired to work at the dam and she states they received 4,000 shillings per day, and everybody was paid for the work done on a weekly basis.

Top: Childeren enjoy fresh water from a borehold constructed by KALIP. Left: Manual dam excavation

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

7

UGX 4,000 Amount of money that people were paid to work at the dam per day water and that will save many farmers the agony of moving from one place to the other in search of water. After the hard work of constructing the dam Veronica is sure that Naikosowan villages will take good care of the dam.

Veronica says, “I used the money I earned to buy food and medicines for my family.” Along with the rest of Naikosowan villages she was so grateful for the opportunity to get the money as before this, very few people in the village had any form of employment or ability to get cash.

The villagers are full of optimism that as soon as the rains fall their valley dam will be filled with

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Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

She states, “there were over 400 people involved in the work and all benefitted from the CfW. So the dam is very much considered as a community asset which all need to look after and maintain.”

“Community members will work towards de-silting the tank regularly because that is the only way to keep the valley dam usable” says Veronica.

Our Story KALIP/ASB Naro Village Pond, Katikekile SC, Moroto District. Cheyen Michael is very happy about the pond that KALIP constructed in his village for cash for work. This season has been dry, but there is some water in the pond and this means he does not have to walk the 1.5km down a very steep hill to get water for his livestock.

He has also used the water to make bricks and is currently improving his house. He hopes that KALIP might start again so that the pond can be further developed. At the moment livestock enter the pond to drink, and he knows this should not be the case. He prefers a cattle trough outside the pond fence, so that direct animal access would become unnecessary.

The New Store means the “Sky is the limit” “I have worked at this store since January 2014 without pay and will work here until the store committee elects a new person and then I will hand over the key. But for now, I am comfortable working without pay and helping my community to store their produce better. These stores have helped us so much because community groups bring their produce together in the store and then there is the opportunity to sell it in bulk to bigger buyers such as NAADS” says Samuel Locala, Kanalobae village, Rengen Subcounty, Kotido district.

I

n Karamoja the traditional means of crop storage and drying persists with the majority of people drying their crops on the ground and then storing them in either traditional granaries or in sacks in their houses. Such practices mean that a lot of dirt gets mixed up with the crop and when in store much can be lost to rats and possibly theft. The villagers of Kanalobae in Kotido District were drying and storing their grains in a similar fashion. Theft was common place and when they hid their grains in nearby bushes to avoid the theft, much of the grains were eaten up by rats or destroyed by other pests When Mercy Corps visited Kanalobae village to find out the needs of the community to be funded by KALIP, community members had no hesitation in asking for a permanent store in which their produce would be kept safely. The Kanalobae community offered land for the grain store and drying slab and helped in the supply of the local materials and manual labour required for the construction. The

store is seen as a community asset and all communities are welcome to use the facilities whether they are in a group or storing as individuals.

22 The number of grain stores constructed by KALIP

The storekeeper, Samuel Lochala explains, “Last season we stored 50 bags of grains from different people in this village and each user was required to pay a fee of 500 shillings per sack per month. I have worked as a volunteer whilst the community elects a committee to run the store, but I do not mind as I have also benefited from the store and kept my grains here!”

According to other users of the store, they prefer to keep their produce in the store because it is safe from pests, thieves, and the fires that often breakout during dry season, destroying homes, and granaries.

There are two APFS groups that store their grains at the store and when they sell their produce they save the money in their VSLA, making the store a real focus of community life. The store acts as a convenient location for potential crop buyers, such as NAADS, to find seeds rather than having to go deep into the villages and because of this they are willing to offer more attractive prices. The crops which have been successfully marketed from the store is in turn encouraging more farmers to store their produce in the store. Samuel appreciates, “Thanks to the new store, the sky is the limit for the community of Kanalobae village in their desire to get income from crop sales!”

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

9

Cash for work, actually works The statistics of Dan ChurchAid’s (DCA) implementation of KALIP activities are impressive; 1 valley dam, 9 subsurface dams, 6 Rock catchment dams, 16 water ponds, 8 irrigation systems, 90 cattle troughs, 1,198 acres of land cultivated, 351 Village saving and loans associations established, 21,608 tree seedlings planted, 43 soil conservation structures built and 57kms of community feeder roads constructed. Benedict Lokiru, KALIP Consortium Coordinator of DCA, is happy that the organisation worked with KALIP.

D

CA aims to ensure that vulnerable people have sufficient food and clean water and for the case of KALIP such provision were achieved through LIWs and paying communities cash for their work.

DCA encouraged all those involved in LIWs to also join Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA), to save part of their hard earned money to be available to members for borrowing and investment.

17,201

DCA invested time in training community members on how to successfully run VSLAs and also The number on operation and maintenance of people that participated in cash (O&M) so that they could also have a role in maintaining the for work activities productive assets. Benedict states that, “DCA designed in-built sustainability measures so that the beneficiaries do not have to wait for the project to come back The total amount of money paid by DCA for to maintain the facilities, but they take on this CfW activities was over 452.6 million shillings. role themselves.” Benedict is convinced, “Cash for This cash injected into the local economy was work actually works!” a great boost and the spill-over affects spread widely”.

Benedict states that, “The impact of DCA, KALIP interventions is considerable with 700 community members involved in CfW actions and each of these received at least 5,000 shillings per day for their work.

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Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

Our Story KALIP/ASB Loligol Village Pond, Lokopo SC, Napak – Lobina Zakari and his friend are elders in the community that supplied labour for CfW activities to desilt and enlarge Loligoi village pond. Despite the dry weather the pond has plenty of water and he is digging a garden to plant vegetables using the treadle pump and irrigation system also supplied by ASB. The pond is useful for livestock, crops and people who also collect water for bathing and clothes washing. He is very grateful to KALIP for the pond and the cash for work.

LIW labourers working on their individual tanks, some being assisted by household members

UGX 2,156,652,725 The amount of cash paid out by KALIP to cash for work participants

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

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Savings bring peace & prosperity Rose Arengere was always fighting with her husband whenever she asked him to give her money for food or school fees. This continued for some years and she almost walked out of the marriage until she met a group of women who convinced her not to abandon her marriage.

“

I was in bad terms with my husband, he would beat me every time I informed him that there was no food or I needed money to pay for school fees for the children,” lamented Rosemary Arengere of Kapadakook village,

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Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

Panyangara Subcounty in Kotido district. “I had almost grown accustomed to the beatings from my husband that I sought either to find a way to stop them, or walk out of the marriage.” Rosemary argues that, “In Karamoja, women are viewed as property

and they are expected to perform almost all tasks including child bearing, taking care of the home and growing crops for food, whilst the men look after the animals or sit idle in village shades”.

Rosemary grew weary of the beatings and after one particularly severe incident she advised her husband to stop being away from home to which he reiterated angrily on who she was to tell him what to do or not to do.”

She resolved never to ask for anything from him again and instead worked towards uniting her family through financial independence. She started brewing the local brew (Ebutia) which turned out not to be profitable yet she had to hand over this small money to her husband to avoid further beatings.

Being ever innovative, Rosemary decided to join the local VSLA were she started saving small sums of money. Little by little her savings grew and she was made the secretary of the group because she was hard working and a trustworthy person.

Burning with ambition, she battled to learn something new and so she also joined the vegetable gardening group. Here she learnt for the first time how to grow vegetables using modern techniques and she soon had a vegetable garden planted of her own.

When she harvested the vegetables, she used some in the house and sold others but put the money she made immediately into the VSLA. As a good saver the VSLA told her that she could also borrow money from the group and return it with an interest of 10% and she decided to give it a try.

With growing confidence and independence, Rosemary once again tried to talk to her husband and asked him to change his way of life and to also join the VSLA group. This time she was not beaten because her voice was more powerful and she knew what she wanted.

Our Story Lokut James of Nangamit village, Lorengedwat SC, Nakapiripirit District admits “Before the VSLA I took much more alcohol, but now I have to think more about how I spend my money in order to be able to save up money every week in the VSLA, it has made me drink less alcohol.” Photo by Mai Gad, DCA/KALIP

787 The number of VSLA groups established by KALIP

She told him that she could survive without him because she was the sole bread winner in the family.

The husband had also sustained some injuries during some inter village fighting and remembering his wife’s advice, he finally joined the VSLA group.

Since then, Rosemary and her husband borrow and pay back money to the group as a family They have managed to open up a family shop in Panyangara from their savings at the VSLA and the fights have stopped. Rosemary now confesses that, “My husband is so understanding these days, we even sit down and discuss issues as husband and wife and this is something we never did before.”

“I have talked to him about family planning and he understood. I am so grateful to this group that I joined, we don’t fight any-more and he has become a very gentle and responsible man towards me and the children.”

“Savings have certainly brought peace and prosperity to this family!” she added.

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

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Janet Museveni and EU The Minister For Karamoja Affairs, Hon t Kaigenoi Vally Tank. inspec tje Hoorn Theo Head of Coorperation Dr

Valley tanks support schooling Well, not directly.... but the chairman of the Kaigenoi Valley Tank water user committee in Karita Subcounty, Amudat District, Merie Thomas says that, “Before KALIP supported the construction of Kaigenoi Valley Tank my children had to spend a lot of time looking for water for the animals and, especially in the dry season, had to walk many miles to the sand holes in the river. Now they know that there is always water in the valley tank and so they take the animals straight there early in the morning. Once this is done, other community members take over the care of the animals and my children can go off to school.”

C

heposetem Loyce is the treasurer of the Kaigenoi water user group and confesses, “Water is a real problem in Amudat for both home and livestock use. We have told community members that the water in the valley tank is not really meant for human

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Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

consumption, but the local people say that it is much cleaner than what they used to drink before and the nearest borehole is over 2 kms away, thus, leaving them with no option.

One of the water user committee members is at

the valley tank everyday to check that users are looking after the tank and using it properly, such as taking their animals through the cattle ramp when watering and not allowing them to break through the fence. “We also make sure that the herders remove any animal droppings from the cattle ramp

after their cattle have left so that this does not contaminate the water”.

Merie comes in, “The valley tank is now the focus of livestock production in Kaigenoi and the neighbouring villages of Katopoton and Kalokotyo.

We want to take advantage of this and use the valley tank as a place to spread messages about better livestock care and disease control. For this we would need a cattle crush so that animals can be treated against tick borne diseases since the valley tank would provide ample water for mixing with medicines.

are also told that they must not wash clothes in the valley tank, but should draw water and wash away from the tank so that dirt and detergents do flow back into the water,” she continues.

Cheposetem concludes, “People in my village are now more healthy because they don’t have to worry anymore about using water for washing their bodies and clothes. This cleanliness has caused diseases to reduce which is great, but if we could have a borehole near the valley tank to stop people drinking the water, then the situation would be even better.”

“Of course we would need to construct this slightly away from the valley tank because people also collect drinking water from the tank. But this will not be hard to do, because community members

Our Story KALIP/MWE constructed Akwapua Valley Tank, in Nadunget Such County, Moroto District. The herd boy in the picture said that it took a while for the cows to get used to going down the stone ramp to get to the water, but now they run straight to the ramp to drink the water. He says they don’t mind treading in the water as this is what they always do and he thinks it also helps cool them down as they enjoy wading in quite deep. The valley tank was still filling when the picture was taken and is about half full, but even so the boy is sure he will be able to bring his cows here for a long time to come.

Top: Handover of a completed valley tank.

Left: Excavation using machinery procured under KALIP.

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

15

New Road, Happy Communities!

“The distance of Lotome Subcounty from the Napak district headquarters in Lokiteded has now been cut by 6kms thanks to the road built by the communities mobilised by ASB and with the use of KALIP funds” states the deputy Chief Administration Officer(CAO) of Napak District, Mr Moses Chuna

I

magine, having a bumper crop and a ready market? This is every trader’s dream, but hold on, have you considered the road? It is impassable! Access to services is crucial for rural communities in Karamoja, but without good roads communities remain isolated and excluded from mainstream development.

This is where the efforts of KALIP make a world of a difference. The Lotome – Lokiteded road in Napak District is a clear case in point and according to John Lodungu the Lotome Subcounty Chief, “The road has enabled traders’ from Iriir and the west of Karamoja to easily access Lotome Subcounty for business and I am very happy about this. Previously, many business people had

16

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

to travel to Kangole to reach Lotome sub-county, this long journey was both time consuming and expensive. Since the time the road was handed over to the sub-county administration by KALIP, it has attracted settlement and has stimulated development in the area.

Life has changed radically for the people of Lotome sub-county as a whole.”

The communities themselves worked on the road and were paid cash for the work they did. This in turn was used to meet family needs such as buying food and medicine for their children. The impact on household income is profound.

This road, resulting from KALIP’s intervention has made many communities in Napak district happy!

Moses Chuna, the ACAO adds that, “Now the journey between Napak District Headquarters and Lotome Subcounty takes far less time than it used to and we thank KALIP for supporting interventions which have truely supported our district development plans.”

Community celebrating after competing a bridge over Nataa River in Nakapiripirit district.

Local leadership in action ‘When Mercy Corps was sensitizing people in Kanalobae village about the drying slab and grain store, they were also looking for a piece of land on which to build the facilities.One resident of the village, John Achuka,who is also the village chairman, saw the importance of the facilities and offered a piece of his land to help his community’.

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emories have different impacts on people, some are spurred into positive action and John Achuka, Chairman Kanalobae village is one such person.

He was inspired to offer his land recounting his brother’s painful death the last time the cattle rustlers raided his village. Achuka painfully recounts the last raid on his village, when all their animals and food was pillaged and he lost his brother as well.

For being a generous and exemplary village chairman the community unanimously elected him the chairman of the grain store and drying slab project.

The chairman states that the drying slab has been transformative in the village; villagers can now use the drying slab and store without any fear. The chairman has personally benefitted from the store, “Before the store was opened, I would harvest my crops and keep them in my

house, but this is the very reason why my brother lost his life when the raiders came to steal our property.

Now I keep all my crops in the store and I have no fears about family food disappearing. I am very happy to pay the 500 shillings per sack to have peace of mind and another thing is that rats no longer come to our home as they find nothing to eat there!”

Achuka continues, “These facilities came at the right time when the village and community really needed them. Our produce is stored safely communally which makes it easy to sell if needed as buyers come to the store and purchase directly, we no longer need to go to Kotido market to sell our produce.”

Achuka stands out as an example of excellent local leadership in action within Kotido district taking the lead in encouraging communities to surrender their land for development.

Our Story KALIP/DCA - Lokala P/S, Nabilatuk SC, Nakapiripirit. Received drip irrigation system from KALIP. Headmistress Mary Achia is now using it as part of the agriculture class to teach students but it also to provides food and income for the school.

She has had a school garden since 2011, but the drip irrigation will allow her to grow more vegetables and not to rely on the erratic rains

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

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02

Increasing farmer productivity Members of the KALIP streering committee observe a demonstration

by CAHWs during a field visit.

Details of outputs to increase production and productivity Planned

Revised

Achieved

Establish APFS

Output

440

440

440

Improved seeds (MT)

12

22

22

Oxen and ox-ploughs

480

480

480

Equip vet-drug shops

10

10

10

Train and equip CAHWs

500

415

415

Construct portable crushes

10

46

46

Improved goats

0

420

420

Poultry supply (Kuroiler)

0

2,970

2,970

Kenya top beehives

0

435

435

Irrigation systems

0

28

28

640

640

500

Revive pasture lands (A) Fuel saving stoves Trees, fodder, fruit & fence

743

743

7,809

603,390

603,390

603,390

VSLA savings (UGX )

214,052,914

District monitoring (UGX )

360,960,000

mountainous blocks scattered across the region. In these areas, a variety of crops grow abundantly and maize replaces sorghum as the staple food.

KALIP result two was handled completely by FAO at a value of €2,528,225. It contained two major elements. Firstly, the promotion of better crop and livestock farming practices through the establishment of 240 new, and further support of 200 old, Agro-Pastoral Field Schools (APFS).

Secondly, improved disease surveillance and treatment, especially through the training and equipping of 415 Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs). Each APFS group had around Below : APFS members display their harvest.

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ows, cows, cows... is what sums up Karamoja for many people in other regions of Uganda. Certainly a cow has a very important role in the life of the Karimojong and is much revered, but the Karimojong have always planted some crops, especially sorghum, to supplement the livestock products and hence the term “Agro-pastoralists” is mostly used. Karamoja also has a great deal of variety across the region from the semi desert areas along the Eastern borders with Kenya to the well watered “greenbelt” zones running along the western and southern borders and in the Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

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30 members resulting in 13,200 people being assisted through this approach. The APFS become the central focus upon which benefits from KALIP converged.

used to develop seeds, fodder grasses and livestock types that would be able to thrive in the particular conditions of Karamoja ensuring the sustainability of the system.

Finally, FAO being the global specialist in agricultural production worked closely with a number of Uganda’s technical bodies to deliver these results. The national research institutes were

Cows are an important resource for Karamoja, but the work of KALIP FAO opened the eyes of APFS members to the many other opportunities that exist around cattle.

APFS members watering vegetables with water pumped treadle pump.

Our Story Kathimongor Village, Alerek SC, Abim District - Akech Annetta uses her fuel saving stove daily. Akech says, “I like it because it uses less fuel wood, makes less smoke, is portable and I use in and outside the kitchen, and is also easy to maintain.� Akech can also make the stoves which she then sells to generate a small income

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Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

Golden vegetables for Ejem ‘He was tired of being employed, he thought he was being under-utilized, so he decided to quit his job as a food security officer with Kaabong District and come back home to try and forge a living by becoming a self-employed farmer’.

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jem Francis is a resident of Adagkolo North Village, Lotuke Sub-county in Abim district and is a member of the “Alimo-Can Youth Farm Development Group.” The group has thirty members and Ejem joined after he quit his job in 2011. His motivation was the thought that he could do better than the people he was training and that he would be better of “practicing what he was preaching”.

Ejem tells the story, “Once I made the decision to be full time on my farm, I looked for others who would join me in a farming group. During this time (before KALIP was started) we were spotted

by FAO implementing partner, Cooperation and Development (C&D) and became an APFS. Vegetable farming was the focus of the APFS learning and we soon started enjoying vegetables at home and marketing some for income. When

FAO/KALIP came, the implementing partner of FAO was changed to GOAL Uganda, but our group continued to thrive and enjoy the training and other support, offered by GOAL. The training was very similar to what I was giving in Kaabong and so it was easy to support the group to apply what we were learning. Together with my wife we always applied what we were taught making our vegetable garden flourish.”

tomatoes, cabbages and eggplants. He could not believe what met him. His harvest was so good that after selling he got a cool 9 million shillings from the sales!

In 2013, Ejem and his wife cultivated a plot where they planted vegetables including onions,

The good harvest was an eye opener for him; he decided to acquire more land by buying twenty Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

21

He has planted cassava on five acres of land and groundnuts, beans, maize and sunflower on another five acres of land. Ejem has never regretted quitting his job. “It has changed my life� states Ejem, who from being employed has now become an employer.

During his work as an agricultural trainer in Kaabong he always used to struggle to have enough money to take care of his family, but now he has enough to meet his household needs, reinvest in the farming business and also have some left over to save in the VSLA of which he is a member.

Evidently, the vegetable garden is a gold mine for Ejem!

Ejem’s beehives.

acres at 4 million shillings. He spent a further 1.5 million shillings on beehives and another 1.5 million shillings to hire labourers for the new farm land.

He also bought seeds worth 1.5 million shillings for the new farm land he had acquired.

Today Ejem boasts of 70 beehives. From his last harvest in April 2014 he produced one

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ton of honey which he sold to HIRAL Honey Company Ltd in Lira at 15 million shillings.

This harvest changed his life in so many ways, he has managed to employ more people to work on his farm, and he also bought four pairs of oxen and two ox ploughs The number of beehives to help cultivate more land to distributed to APFS members grow more crops.

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

435

Taking a stand against livestock diseases

In 2004, a group of people came together in Kotido town council because they all faced a similar problem of animal diseases.

Many of them had lost animals and felt enough was enough - they had to act! They decided to start-up an association that would help them battle the livestock diseases which were claiming their most valuable possessions.

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he association’s primary objective was to ensure that farmers received animal drugs without having the trouble of trekking long distances to go buy these drugs,” explains Paulino who is the Vice Chairman of Jie Community Animal Health Workers Association (JICAHWA). “We came together and decided that we could do something about the disease problem and opened an animal drug shop.

We buy our supplies from Kampala, Lira and Soroti, then bring them to sell to livestock owners in Kotido.”

also boosted the JICAHWA Vet Shop with 10 million shillings worth of supplies.

However, there was always a problem of keeping enough stock in the shop to meet the growing demand and so it was with great relief that in 2013 FAO/KALIP identified JICAHWA Vet Shop as a beneficiary of its vet drug support programme.

The three shops in Kotido district provide drugs for vaccination and treatment of animals and basic veterinary advice. Paulino proudly states that

FAO/KALIP carried out refresher training with the CAHWs and gave them a basic set of equipment and a bicycle to support their para-vet role. They

Paulino relates, “We were about to close the shop because we could not manage to restock, but when we became a KALIP beneficiary our business volume recovered and we were even able to open two new branches in Rengen and Panyangara Sub Counties.”

the attendants and these people are trained to be able to handle the different types of drugs. We can even release some drugs to farmers on credit in an emergency. We also offer advice of identifying sick animals and how to administer treatments”.

“The shops have also provided employment for The PS, OPM hands over veterinary drugs to a veterinary drug supply shop in Moroto.

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My Children are ready for School “I had to drop out of school due to lack of school fees” recalls Aleu Christine who is now is 28 years old and a member of St Mary’s APFS which is within Nakapiripirit Town Council. “I wanted to make sure that same thing did not happen to my own three children and so I have been determined to make sure that each term I raise the required money in good time”

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s a part of St Mary’s APFS, Christine works with other members of the group to grow a variety of crops and then sell them in local markets of Nakapiripirit. “It is hard work,” says Christine, “But the effort is worth it and in 2012 I managed to save 200,000 shillings in the VSLA that we have associated with the APFS. I withdrew my savings in December and was able to buy uniforms and pay school fees for my three children. I was so proud when I saw them going off

to school to start the new term and looking so smart!”

In February 2013 Christine borrowed 200,000 shillings from the VSLA and used this money to open up an additional 3 acres of land and plant beans. “These 3 acres were on top of the land I continued to cultivate from 2012 and I expect my income to be 3 or 4 times as much because I will store the produce and sell during the hungry period when the price is higher,” states Christine.

Christine’s friend, Sagal Primina, also borrowed money from the VSLA. Sagal says, “I borrowed 300,000 shillings from our VSLA and invested the money in my retail shop. I brought more stock and now my turnover has increased”.

UGX 214,052,914 The amount of money saved in VSLAs by the end of the 2013 saving cycle.

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Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

New ideas for modern living “When we started the APFS groups on behalf of KALIP FAO the farmers were more oriented towards traditional agricultural practices such as broadcasting seeds. Today however they have learnt new methods in the APFS and now they plant their crops in rows and look after their animals in a much better way, including the provision of mineral licks, which they have learnt to make for themselves” enthuses Vinancio Ogwo, Project Co-ordinator, Happy Cow Nakapiripirit (KALIP FAO Implementing Partner).

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raditional agricultural techniques have sustained communities throughout the world for millennia, but today we are facing changed circumstances with increasing populations and climate changes due to global warming,” says Vinancio, “But the answers can be found locally in the proper training of farmers and resource support.”

In Nakapiripirit, Happy Cow established 68 APFS groups and took them through the season long learning cycle. They also supported various income generating activities which were identified by the school members such as; bee keeping, poultry keeping, seed multiplication, vegetable and crop production, energy saving stoves, goat rearing and animal traction. They taught all APFS members how to make mineral licks for the livestock using locally available resources.

Vinancio is excited about the progress of the

groups. “When we started the APFS, farmers were stuck in their traditional ways, but due to the practical, (hands-on) learning approach of the APFS, many soon adopted the more productive modern methods of farming. The APFS also cover environmental issues such as tree planting and soil and water conservation. Animal traction is also taking over from hand digging with a hoe and so people are able to cultivate more land and end up with more food in their granaries”.

Happy Cow wanted the members of the APFS groups to change their attitude from dependency to greater self reliance and grow their own crops and raise livestock for food security and income, and not to rely on handouts or raiding to get livestock. Vinancio states, “We want the farming communities of Nakapiripirit District to enjoy satisfying livelihoods and to have a modern and peaceful existence. When I see such changes I am very happy with the work we are doing!”

Our Story Chepoknor threshes some of the maize grains she harvested from her Manyatta garden in Loroo SC in Amudat District. Chepoknor says, “The whole group harvested 32 sacks of threshed maize grains (3.2mt) from our 6 acres which DCA/CPAR ploughed for us. Some we use at home, but some I sell to pay for my children’s school fees”.

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

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Cattle are my first love “As I passed through my teenage years in the early 1990’s cattle raiding was an expected part of my life,” recalls Michael Lokunoi of Napak District. “In 1996 we went to near the Kenyan border to try and raid cattle from the Tukana herdmen who were grazing there. The Turkana fought back to save their animals and I was shot in my left arm”

L 26

okunoi made it back to Napak, but the pain was terrible and he wondered who would look after this 2 wives and 10 children if he had been killed by

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

the bullet. “I knew my life had to change and I decided to stop raiding, but I wondered what else I could do? I had no livestock and only managed to survive by selling firewood and my wives weeded

110 The number of cattle troughs constructed with KALIP funds

fields for other people. We were desperate and my family was on the verge of starvation” These are painful memories for Lokunoi, but now his life has changed and he is an active member of Lajor-Kidule APFS group. The Lajor-Kidule group was established by a local NGO called COMWO who are an implementing partner for KALIP-FAO and they provided training, improved seeds and other inputs to the APFS group. “Our APFS group meets every week,” says Lokunoi. “I have learnt so many things, but the best was what I learnt about vegetable growing. I now work with 5 other members of Lajor-Kidule and together we plant a large vegetable garden on which we grow onions, egg plants and tomatoes throughout the year”

181,000 The number of chickens vaccinated against New Castle Disease

Lokunoi enthuses, “We have managed to have excellent yields. We sell the crops together in local markets and then share the income at the end of the month. I remember in those days when I would be happy to hold 500 shillings in my hand, but now my share of the vegetable income regularly reaches 300,000 shillings. Can you imagine that!”

Lokunoi uses some of the money to buy essential household items, but the larger proportion he saves and he has just recently brought 5 large turkeys. After he sells the turkeys he plans to buy goats until he has enough money to start buying cattle, so that he can once again start having his own herd, which is still very important to any Karimojong man. “Cattle are my first love,” says Lokunoi, “But this time I will get them through my own hard work and not by stealing from others!”

Our Story Mama Ushindi is proud to be named after her group located Ariamaoi village, Nabilatuk SC, Nakapiripirit District. “We were trained by Happy Cow on poultry care and then received 250 Kuroiler chickens. We were meant to breed these chickens and then distribute to other AFPS members” says Mama, “The chickens have done so well and we know that they were a gift that we can pass on, and this is what we are now doing.

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

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KALIP & FAO Partnership boosts livelihood in Karamoja Ben Ogang, FAO Program Officer, Livestock Production, Moroto Office, argues that, “All the activities FAO introduced under KALIP will be sustainable since it focuses on food security and livelihood development. FAO established APFS groups and provided them with quality inputs such as improved seeds, cassava cuttings, oxen, ox ploughs, veterinary equipment and start up assets for income generating projects�.

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Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

F

AO worked with a number of implementing partners including Happy Cow, Caritas and ADRA to help deliver KALIP outputs to the agro-pastoralists in Karamoja. Capacity building was an integral part of the partnership, not only through the APFS, but also through special trainings on VSLAs, income generating project management and CAHWs actions.

12,348 The number of members of KALIP Agro-Pastoral Field Schools “Furthermore,” Ben points out,“Groups formed by FAO have reached a networking level which can market

and promote their products outside Karamoja.

These networks provide a high level of organization to farmers that give them a united and strong position when negotiating prices.

FAO is proud to be part of KALIP programme and to have supported it in achieving its targets for the development of Karamoja.

FAO is confident that the projects implemented will be sustainable, according to Ben Ogang, “We have learnt good lessons from KALIP and have managed to achieve the targets we set at the outset of the project.

We have also tried to encourage the APFS groups to come together to form area networks which will focus their efforts on marketing.

One success story is of honey, which one APFS network has started selling honey to markets outside Karamoja.

This requires a much higher level of group organisation and FAO, through it’s implementing partners, has provided this extra training to network officials. The marketing networks give the farmers a stronger voice and better bargaining opportunities when they meet interested buyers.”

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

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03

Strengthening Local Government

Details of outputs under support to local government Output

Planned

Revised

Achieved

Production offices

33

33

33

Regional Laboratory

0

1

1

Solar power units

37

37

38

Vehicles (pick-ups)

9

9

9

Motorcycles

30

30

30

GPS and cameras

28

28

28

Computers

58

58

58

Photocopiers

7

7

7

Printers

58

37

37

Internet

37

37

37

Furniture & Fridge

37

37

37

Vet equipment

37

37

0

Training

7

5

5

Monitoring funds

In Amudat district there is one qualified

13,000,000

Production and Marketing Officer.

some of which could not be funded by KALIP for instance supporting districts in employing technical staff. Nevertheless, KALIP was able to make the working environments more comfortable for the few staff available including those caretaking production functions. These offices were equipped with the tools necessary to carry out their work effectively.

his is a problem that is repeated across Karamoja as districts fail to attract the staff they require to effectively offer the services which they are mandated to provide. There are many reasons for this situation,

KALIP support in result 3 was based on District Capacity Building Work Plans (DCBWPs) which were developed during the Inception Period of KALIP in 2010 through consultative meetings between

veterinary doctor amongst the district staff and as well as caring for the districts animals, he also has the responsibility of being the District

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district stakeholders and KALIP PMU staff. To operationlise the DCBWPs, MoUs were signed between each of the Districts and KALIP and through the years of KALIP implementation the different aspects of the DCBWP have been met.

Key outputs include 6 district production offices, 27 Subcounty Production offices, 1 regional Laboratory in Moroto, furniture and IT equipment for these offices, solar power and transport – double cabin pickups for the 7 districts and motorcycles for the 30 Sub counties. KALIP also provided training of local government staff in record keeping, O&M, GPS use and computer literacy.

Many of the subcounty production offices were built in very remote corners of Karamoja where new administrative units were created. At times they were the first permanent building in the area and certainly the first to have power and computers. To bring effective government technical support nearer to the crop and livestock farmers of Karamoja was a very important priority for KALIP and through the provision of fully equipped offices this was to a large extent achieved. But let the beneficiaries speak for themselves....

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Building Blocks of Change

Our Story

“Karamoja has always had low capacity and there has been limited support from government and other partners,” states John Lodungokol, Production and Marketing Officer, Napak District

“

Since time immemorial, cattle rustling was part and parcel of the culture in Karamoja but with the implementation of the integrated disarmament process the entire social dynamic was changed.” John continues, “Today the situation is gradually changing and more support is coming to the region and KALIP is a fine example of this increasing interest.”

I liked the initial approach of KALIP, where the PMU staff met with local government staff to identify the gaps restricting service delivery in the production department and then working with them to fill these gaps in terms of buildings, transport, equipment and training. Napak is a comparatively new district and the KALIP support was particularly appreciated as it sought to build its capacity”.

“The district received support at all district and sub-county levels and through this assistance production was boosted with farmers having improved skills in crop husbandry and

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Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

33

I am the commercial officer in Napak District,” explains Riisa. “Napak District is just a few years old and so we have a lot to do to link farmers to markets. The computer and internet connection which KALIP provided has helped me so much to find potential buyers and to see if they have interest to buy the products of the crop and livestock farmers of Napak .

The number of district and subcounty offices constructed by KALIP water readily available for their livestock. The District Production Office which KALIP constructed at the new district headquarters in Lokiteded, Matany Subcounty is the “jewel in the crown” and is admired by all who visit.

I received a laptop to support my work and all the many reports I have to produce and we also got a heavy duty photocopier which is meant for the Production department, but is actually benefitting all district departments. The equipment which KALIP supplied is of high quality and so we do not mind other making use of the assets provided to Production,” continues John.

Napak District administration officials explained

that all these developments from KALIP arrived at the right time when the relevant government ministries were resource constrained and work in the district was being hindered. John concludes, “The intervention by KALIP will in years to come be that little nudge that made Karamoja turn the corner towards rapid development”.

Motorcycle and computer handover to districts

Thoughts on a holistic transforming programme Edward Eko, Deputy CAO, Moroto District contemplates on some of the larger issues faced by KALIP, “We appreciate the various productive assets and other facilities we have received from KALIP and its partners, but it is up to us as local government to ensure that operation & maintenance costs are considered. Many of our officers are trained in maintenance and it is now on our part as, district technical staff, to ensure that budgets are in place to ensure the projects are maintained�.

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

33

E

ko continues’ “KALIP provided transport to production offices at district and subcounty levels and this has supported our ability to monitor the interventions of KALIP and other partners. Whereas monitoring is just one aspect of the support we are now able to offer, with transport now not being a barrier we are also able to offer the full spectrum of services which people expect from local government staff.

This technical support has led to improved agricultural skills across Karamoja region, which in turn has given a boost to crop and livestock production. Because of KALIP, service delivery has greatly improved and even the competence of technical staff has been upgraded thanks to the training and capacity building input provided by KALIP. Transport for production officers at sub-county and district levels was also improved since KALIP offered motor cycles and vehicles to the production department. The provision of district and subcounty production offices by KALIP has also provided a nicer working environment and the IT equipment has greatly increased the efficiency of reporting and networking”.

Edward observed that the ripple effect of KALIP interventions is causing communities to change their way of life and they are adopting farming in addition to the traditional pastoralism. Increasing numbers of people who used to practice subsistence farming are

34

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

Our Story

now opening up bigger commercial farms and many people have learnt the importance of getting involved in VSLAs. Through the APFS groups people have been presented with new crops such as cassava and improved seeds which are better adapted to the environment. Some people have also adopted modern farming techniques such as row planting and irrigating their fields during periods of drought.

Edward concludes, “KALIP is a holistic livelihood transformation programme because of its multifaceted interventions that hinge on sustainable solutions, such as identifying water for production and environmental conservation. The support KALIP gave for building police post offices and accommodation adds another dimension to their impact and allows farmers and livestock keepers to carry out their livelihoods in a situation of security, law and order because without peace there can be no development.

Dohan Lomo is a member of the Kanalobae grain store, Rengen SC, Kotido District. Dohan says, “At the moment I am using the store floor to dry my groundnuts, but as the store fills I will put my G’nuts in sacks. Two sacks I will keep for my own use and the rest I will sell. I sell as with the group, where the market is good and a high price is assured.”

Veterinary services where they are needed Dr Arionga says, “The veterinary department in Nakapiripirit district used to send specimens to the national referral laboratory for clinical diagnosis or perhaps for lesser issues to Moroto or Mbale, but not anymore!”

I

n 2010, KALIP team, in conjunction with the District Local Governments (DLGs), made a detailed analysis of the capacity gaps in District Production and Marketing Departments (DPMO) and one of the gaps identified was the absence of laboratories. As KALIP constructed the new offices the designs included a

laboratory that will enable the district veterinary department have the ability to carry out its own tests and save a lot of travelling.

Dr Arionga Simon Peter, District Veterinary Officer, of Nakapiripirit District argues, “The laboratory is a sustainable undertaking because the district

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

35

has separately received laboratory equipment from another project. The office has solar power, furniture, IT equipment and transport to enable the staff to reach the field to give farmers and livestock keepers first hand advice.” “Incidentally,” reflects Dr Arionga, “The various support items came just at the right time and helped the district deal effectively with an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The equipment enabled us to travel to the field, meet with farmers, provide the necessary advice and vaccinations and hence contain the disease outbreak in its early stages”.

Stakeholders in Nakapiripirit are in consensus that KALIP interventions are changing the face of the district with its cross cutting supports Dr Arionga believes, “The developments in the district face no sustainability challenges, since they will be incorporated within the budget and utilized fully.” Dr Arionga also offers praise to the APFS established under KALIP result 2 and the combination of empowered district technical staff and skilful APFS members is expected to generate significant impacts on productivity in Nakapiripirit District.

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Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

415 The number of Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) trained and equipped by KALIP

Greater efficiency in Napak “Prior to KALIP’s intervention, Napak DPMO lacked office space and furniture and were actually working from two rooms within Napak District Health Department. These two rooms accommodated the officers for NAADS, Crop Sector, Veterinary, and Commercial section, but thanks to KALIP this situation has all changed for the better,” states John Peter Okinyom, District Agriculture Officer, Napak District.

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ohn Peter explains further, “When KALIP identified the major constraint at the district as lack of office space, plans were put in place and as of now we have a fully furnished office. It was not just the district that benefitted from KALIP support, but 4 Sub Counties in Napak also benefitted from fully equipped production office facilities”.

Napak district is now more efficient after having received two vehicles to ease transportation within the district. Subcounty headquarters also received motorcycles for their transport and today local

The Napak District Production Office.

government officials are able to interact freely with farmers without any challenges in regard to venue or movement. KALIP also arranged training for the DPMO and Subcounty staff such that their capacity was improved and they could effectively utilise the resources supplied by KALIP. John Peter proudly states that, “Today the District Agricultural Officer can confidently assert that when it comes to planning, capacity building, budgeting and how to manage and mentor junior staff, it has sufficient capacity to deal with all areas.” He continues, “The exposure accorded to Napak district courtesy of KALIP has generated new ideas on sustainable

food security. KALIP’s integrated approach that encompassed physical infrastructure and capacity building is big push for Napak and an infusion of efficiency into the district”.

The 9 pickups given to districts.

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

37

Digitizing interventions with GPS Imagine constructing health units and police posts and having significant challenges in identifying their precise location? In the past, when projects were undertaken in a district or Subcounty, it was difficult to establish their exact location, but as part of the KALIP support to districts they provided GPS handsets and so accurate locations can now be recorded in district records.

K

John considered the training was an essential element of supplying the equipment, “Without it I would not have been able to make full use of the GPS handset”.

aramoja has for long been considered as a backwards region of Uganda due to the harsh climate and the strong maintenance of traditional culture, but KALIP did not allow such thoughts to stop it introducing the most modern IT and GPS technologies to support district officials. So that the most would be made of the supplied equipment, KALIP in collaboration with the Northern Uganda Data Centre also trained district and subcounty officials in GPS operations. To confirm this training, all participants were awarded certificates of attendance.

Moroto district is now using the GPS handset to record all assets constructed within its boundaries and support its monitoring and maintenance.

Geo referencing of project locations is increasingly being encouraged to avoid false reporting on projects.

Facilitator explains use of GPS

John Olinga, District Agricultural Officer, Moroto District was among the trainees in Karamoja who received GPS equipment and training from KALIP. John states that, “The GPS equipment has helped us capture data, especially the location of the structures such as valley dams, valley tanks, cattle crushes, grain stores and other structures and facilities in the district. The GPS has also enabled

38

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

Moroto district confidently asserts that it has the capacity to maintain 98% of the facilities and projects the district received from KALIP. The district appreciates the impact of KALIP’s intervention witnessed across the board with a clear example being the transforming power of GPS technology.

me to track and locate facilities which other district partners have developed. I have even used the GPS to pinpoint a spot where I have identified a particular crop or livestock disease problem.”

Taking GPS readings.

Yes…. I am computer literate!

Joshua Riiza enthuses about his new found computer expertise...

“My name is Joshua Riiza and I am the District Commercial Officer (DCO), Napak.

I am among the direct beneficiaries of the KALIP computer training programme.

I benefitted from basic computer training which has helped me in executing my

Our Story Akidi Dorcas is a SC extension worker in Panyangara SC, Kotido District. “Office work is now so easy thanks to KALIP” states Dorcus, “I now return from my field work and easily write up the necessary reports. I can then either print them or send them to whoever needs them thanks to the internet connection that KALIP gave us.”

duties. Computer training has boosted my work in many ways. For instance, I can now write business plans for farmers with so much ease because of the computer training I received. Indeed, I have managed to write farmer group constitutions so quickly and make them look so smart, thanks to the laptop and computer training offered by KALIP. The laptop also enables me to do my work from any corner of the district and work as I am meeting farmers so I capture the correct information.”

J

ohn continues, “KALIP also provided a wireless modem and data connection for the district and this has made communication with our central ministry easy. I used to travel regularly to Kampala to receive and submit documents, but now most communication is done via the internet at a touch of a button.

as Access and Open Office. I even do some basic computer maintenance myself!”

I have also taken the chance to learn about the unfamiliar programmes on my computer such

I can say with confidence….Yes…I am computer literate thanks to KALIP!”

Joshua concludes, “My world view has changed radically, I am able to obtain internet downloads on any topic I choose to learn about and being able to send reports by email has made Napak seem a lot closer to Kampala than it actually is.

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

39

Kudos KALIP One of Karamoja’s major challenges faced by farmers across the region is the low productivity of crops and livestock, which are even made worse by recurrent famine. When KALIP commenced work in Karamoja, the heads of production departments in the region presented the challenges they faced. It was established that there were similarities across the districts in the context of production.

T

engei Mario Lokut, District Agricultural Officer, Nakapiripirit District has attended all district and regional meetings called

by KALIP. He states, “KALIP has done a commendable job in Karamoja region. It’s one of the government programmes that has done a lot for production. Prior to KALIP, Production departments never had offices of their own, but now these are in many areas of Karamoja. The KALIP constructed production offices are the best in the district or Subcounty. The offices have also been fully equipped with transport, furniture, computers, internet connection and solar power”.

Following the initiative by KALIP agricultural staff will be able to visit farmers and give technical support on how to improve their production, Tengai Mario explains. “We can go to the field to support farmers easily because of the motorcycles and cars provided and this support is hugely appreciated by the farmers when they are visited. I commend KALIP for the good job of transparency that they portrayed while initiating the

40

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

project and my only disappointment comes in the fact that the programme is ending just when we thought we could do so much more together!”

58 The number of computers supplied to production offices

P. O. Box Nakapiripirit Peter Angolere, Chairman, Nakapiripirit Farmers Forum laments,“ Whenever we had to meet with the NAADS officer in Nakapiripirit Town Council we had to hold the meeting under a tree. This was fine when it was dry, but within Karamoja, Nakapiripirit is a comparatively wet place and when it rained the meeting had to be cancelled. The Town Council had no production office and the production officer shared a small room with the internal auditor. But thanks to KALIP this is no longer a problem.”

N

akapiripirit farmers’ forum is one of the indirect beneficiaries of the new KALIP supported Town Council Production Office. The forum brings together all farmers in Nakapiripirit Town council and was established in 2006 to identify projects that would support the more needy farmers within the town council. The forum also looks at the challenges farmers face and forwards them to the District Production Department or the NAADS official at the town council.

Peter explains that the farmers forum has benefitted from the new office block in many ways, “There is a small store room in the building and we use this to store our seeds prior to planting. We hope that the building might be expanded and we would then plan to start cereal banking. We can hold our meetings whenever we need to, we are not disturbed by the weather and we always know where to find the Town Council production staff.

All these things have greatly strengthened the forum. If anyone reading this wants to meet with the farmers forum they can always find me or our officials in the production office – we now have a proper

address and the KALIP supported motorcycle helps the technical staff in the Town Council reach our farmers who might have production problems”.

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

41

04

Supporting community policing

Details of outputs for support to Uganda Police Force Output

Planned

Revised

Achieved

Offices

7

8

8

Accommodation

70

63

63

Office power

7

8

8

Boreholes

7

5

5

Motorcycles

14

14

14

Office furniture

7

8

8

Fencing

0

7

7

Police training

210

210

337

Crime prevention groups

63

63

63

School crime prevention clubs

37

37

37

Community policing (approx)

W

hat do you know about Karamoja.....? A conflict ridden area full of half naked people, drinking cows blood and walking around with guns strapped on their shoulders is a common response, but all these statements are far from the truth. Karamoja is a VERY DIFFERENT place than it was 10 years ago and yet the facts of the situation and what people think the situation is, are taking quite a while to converge.

But it was because of these very changed circumstances that as KALIP implementation started GoU requested the EU for a slight change of emphasis of the activities and outputs under KALIP Peace building initiatives. That instead of supporting this through peace meetings and

90,000,000

furniture, solar power and an active community policing programme in selected community groups and Primary Schools.

These police posts were in rural locations chosen because of a range of security issues such as, remote location, border area, intense commercial activity e.g. mining and/or an area where cattle raiding used to be more common, as well as level of lawlessness.

KALIP also provided funds to the UPF to give its officers further training in community policing methodologies and ultimately provided T-shirts to help identify the 567 community and 1,110 school crime preventers as they carried out their rolls.

community dialogues, the GoU wanted KALIP to work with the Uganda Police Force (UPF) to support the promotion of Community Policing.

This was in recognition of the increasing roll of the UPF in maintaining law and order in Karamoja as the army (UPDF) decreased its presence.

Karimojong society had also reached a level where the local people were ready to make a significant contribution to ensuring their own safety and security.

Given the limited funding under these results, each of the seven district police headquarters, guided by their two regional heads selected one subcounty per district to construct a police post with transport, office facilities, accommodation,

Community crime preventer in Loballangit subcounty, Kaabong District

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

43

Supporting the police, safeguarding the community Sergeant Tusiime Dickson, Officer in Charge (OC), Kanu Police Post, Abim District says, “The officers at Kanu police post don’t have to walk long distances any more to take suspects to the central police station because they now have two cells at the police post – one for men and the other for women. Each cell can offer secure temporary accommodation to 25 inmates when the post gets overwhelmed with suspects”.

K

anu Police Post was established in 2011 and was initially located in two small rented rooms within Kanu trading centre, Abim Subcounty, Abim District. Sergeant Tusiime recalls, “The main police

44

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

office was under a tree beside the office because the single office room did not offer sufficient space for police activities. The second room was used for police accommodation and nine officers shared the room placing their mattresses side by side and

sleeping in shifts. Privacy was totally absent.”

“But police work requires such sacrifices at times,” continues Tusiime, “Despite all the challenges the officers underwent, they were expected to report

Our Story Obonyo Richard is the chairman of Wangikwee Crime preventers Group in Arembwara Parish, Abim SC, Abim District and has a grim story to tell. “I was asked by the OC Kanu police post to root out a man who sold an old ladies pig without her permission. We crime preventers soon located him and we called for the police. As the police were arresting him he tried to attack us with a panga and I was cut on the arm. But I am still proud to be a crime preventer,” enthuses Obonyo

on duty on time and give their best at work because the police post was started at the time when crime rates had soared in Kanu. Murder, land wrangles, defilement, and theft were common criminal offences, but it was difficult for the officers to take suspects to the cells in Abim Town police station due to the absence of transport. The only option left was to walk the suspects 5km to the central police station and we willingly did this as our policing roll was a service to the nation of Uganda” But this situation was not destined to last for ever because Kanu police post had been chosen to be one of the focal Sub Counties for KALIP UPF support and its desire to support the promotion of peace and security across Karamoja.

KALIP acted swiftly and provided the police post with two motorcycles and then went on to construct an office block and 9 two room accommodation units. The quality accommodation was greatly appreciated by officers serving in this

remote location who now had two rooms for personal use! KALIP also furnished the office building, installed mains electricity, drilled a borehole, fenced the compound and fitted with three water tanks.

Sergeant Tusiime reflects, “Today, thanks to KALIP, Kanu police post is the smartest police facility in Abim District.

The excellent facilities have also boosted the morale of the officers who now work in comfort.”“Incidentally,” adds Tusiime, “The crime rate in Kanu has also plummeted and the post records indicate a five-fold drop in reported cases.”

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

45

Our Story “My name is Esther (not the real name) and I was defiled by a relation and became pregnant. I had to leave school and was ashamed to return even though the baby died. But members of Lolachat P/S Crime Prevention Club came and told me I must come back to school and feel no shame. I came back and was supported by these friends and became a member of the Crime Prevention Club myself, so that I could help other children.”

Community AntiCrime Watch “According to local police, the crime prevention groups have played a major role in reducing crime rates. Each of the four parishes of Abim Subcounty, Abim District has at least 1 crime prevention group and these have greatly eased police work”.

T

he motto of Uganda Police reads: ‘Protect & Serve’. The residents of Geregere North Village Kanu subcounty Abim District; support the police fully to fulfill their motto, though, their Crime Prevention Club known as Jami Bale Crime Prevention Group.

Jami Bali was established in early 2014 as a direct result of the KALIP support to community policing in Abim Subcounty. The aim of the group is to work with the police to try and control crime in their village. David Oketch, Chairman, Jami Bale Crime Prevention Group says “Before our village enrolled in the crime prevention programme, the police were recording over twenty criminal cases daily. This posed a challenge for the local police force in handling these cases.

Jami Bale worked with the police to sensitise the community on matters of law and order”.

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Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

David states that, “Some minor issues the members of the group are able to sort out locally, such as domestic disputes, but when more serious crimes have been committed we refer the case to the police for further follow up.” According to the local police, the crime prevention groups have played a major role in reducing crimes and this has made police work much easier.

David states that the crime preventers role is not an easy one, “The crime preventers are on call 24 hours a day and can be called on to support the police during the day or night.

We are also the “eyes” of the police on the ground and recently worked with the police to catch some criminals who had come from Pader District to steal our goats. Jami Bale is the anti-crime watch for the police of Kanu police post!”

Novelty of community policing Mt Moroto Regional Police Commander Okot Obwana says “Community policing is a concept that when well implemented can ensure peace is maintained in the community and beyond. KALIP’s work with the UPF and its support for community policing was a major boost for the promotion of peace and security across Karamoja.

R

upa Police Post lies just 7km from the Kenya border and is an area with a lot of mining activity. Despite this strategic position the police post had no office space

or detention cells, and the housing for police officers was deplorable or non-existent, with most officers sleeping in grass thatched huts,” reports Commander Okot. “After

KALIP intervention my officers were able to enjoy excellent office facilities, ample cell space, great accommodation, solar power and plentiful fresh water provided from a borehole drilled within the police post compound.”

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

47

Minister foir Karamoja Affairs (L) and EU Head of Rural Development Bogdan Stefanesceu (R) listen to the National Programme Coordinator during the opening of the Karita Police Post.

him my assurance that the very high crime rates currently being recorded in Karamoja would decrease as the UPF had the man-power and the capacity to deal with local people, and work with them, to reduce crime rates”.

ACP Okot said, “I met with the former EU Ambassador, Mr Roberto Ridolfi, and it was through this conservation that we confirmed that KALIP would work with the UPF to support community policing. I told the Ambassador that we had severe shortages of police accommodation across the Karamoja region and the Ambassador was impressed by the way I described the possible impact of community policing on law and order, and safety and security for the people of Karamoja.

He was keen that the EU should support this initiative through KALIP result 4. In return I gave

48

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

The RPC noted that Mount Moroto Police Region received four police posts and these were located in Rupa Subcounty in Moroto District, Lokopo subcounty in Napak, Lolachat subcounty in Nakapiripirit and Karita Subcounty in Amudat.

337 The number of police officers trained in community policing

Our Story “I saw a friend not in school and asked why and she said she had no books. Our Crime Prevention Club Patron went and saw the parents and persuaded them to buy books for their child,” says one member of Sarachom P/S, Lobalangit SC, Kaabong District: Another recalls, “A boy stole a chicken and flat iron from a teacher. The crime Prevention Club found out who it was, told our Patron, who then persuaded the boy to return the properties”.

Creating crime awareness James Okello, District Police Commander (DPC), Abim District says, “He is impressed with the KALIP intervention in Abim and the focus on Community Policing. He was happy that the training on community policing supported by KALIP also covered the topic of customercare.”

T

he DPC Abim, said that he was also a participant in one the trainings which was facilitated by officers from the National Police Headquarters and he was surprised at how much more he could learn about modern community policing methodologies.

The DPC explains, “I used the knowledge I gained at the Karamoja wide training to then go on and train my own officers within Abim District. I am emphasising the need for community members to know their rights and giving my officers the skill of handling communities and suspects in a professional manner, which does not infringe on their rights”.

DPC James continues, “I am working closely

with my senior police officers in Abim to instruct them how to talk to their officers and how to handle suspects in a manner that special care is observed.

Every Monday my senior officer team talk to junior officers about customer care and this is having very positive impacts on community/police relations across the district. KALIP also supported the establishment of community and school crime prevention groups in Abim Subcounty and the Kanu Police Post is the best police structure in the whole of Karamoja!”

The DPC concludes, “Today we have crime prevention clubs in all Primary Schools in Abim subcounty and in each of the four parishes there are two crime prevention groups. These meet weekly to discuss crime prevention within their areas and my officers go and support these meetings as often as they can, but normally at least once a month.

The emphasis on community crime prevention is already having an impact in Abim Subcounty where crime rates are down, police intervention success is up and generally the whole crime situation has become much more manageable”.

Our Story The OC of Lolachat Police Post addresses members of the Sakale P/S crime prevention club. The visit was late in the day, but the children waited for the KALIP team to arrive so that they could share their enthusiasm for the crime prevention club initiative. Poor school attendance is very high and the crime preventer try to tell their parents, fellow children and other community members about the importance of attending school

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

49

Law of Moses comes to a halt Under the Old Testament law, there was a strong emphasis on justice and punishments to be levelled at those who committed the crimes, oft quoted is the phrase “an eye for an eye,” which comes from the Law of Moses which had punishments equivalent to the crime. Many African societies, the Karimojong included, have a similar code to keep society in check and balance the dynamics of inter and intra communal relations.

M

ount Moroto Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Okot Obwoba says, “The level of rights awareness in Karamoja has traditionally been relatively low and communities feel that there was no guarantee that justice can prevail without taking the law in their own hands. However, as police presence has increased across the region, confidence in the police has been growing and communities increasingly trust the police as a provider of security.”

Okot continues, “We wanted communities to know their rights and then to reap the benefits of this, but getting people to change their mind-set is not easy. My officers in the field involved in community policing, worked closely with local communities and slowly the deeply engrained traditional mode of justice and problem solving, largely based on revenge, is changing. The police continually ask the community to be supportive and to report cases to the police and also to 50

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

be patient enough to await the outcome of investigations.” “To spread the message further,” Okot explains, “We held radio talk shows where we explained what happens in community policing and then invited questions from listeners. Many people called in the radio station and the show was a great success and community trust in the services of the police, was further strengthened”.

ACP Okot concludes, “Today, communities report cases to police and allow police to conclude investigations.

Furthermore, community policing has taken a new and positive twist in Karamoja because communities now know their rights. For instance, police posts are now recording more cases of defilement since people now know this is a criminal offence

and punishable by law. Defilement is still a major problem across Karamoja, where there is little regard to the legal age limits when marrying off girls, but I am happy to note that police posts are recording declining cases of defilement owing to increased community awareness”.

A Word of the National Programme Coordinator of KALIP and ALREP My journey with KALIP has been a very exciting one, and very enriching for me professionally. KALIP was a complex programme in many ways. The sheer size of the operational area, the variety of technical areas that we covered, the interests of many different stakeholders that we needed to balance, and the rules of the development partner that we needed to comply with, all meant that there was never a dull moment in KALIP.

I

am proud to be associated with KALIP. Firstly, because the programme has made a substantial positive difference in the lives of many people in Karamoja. Its deliverables can be seen, felt and heard. Secondly, because of the dedicated and enthusiastic people I was privileged to work with. The Minister for Karamoja Affairs has been very engaged and guided the programme very ably at the political level. The permanent Secretaries, Mr Pius Bigirimana and Mrs Christine Guwatudde Kintu, have been very supportive, allowing our team to do their work, and only step in at critical moments during implementation. The districts local governments have been both implementers and recipients of the programmes interventions. We have benefitted enormously from their technical staff, and their critical but always constructive engagement with us to make the programme a success.

I must mention our team in Moroto, ably managed

by Jimmy Ochien with the technical support of

Alastair Taylor. Considering the size of the team, 12 in total of which only 5 were technical staff, it is truly amazing what they have accomplished. They have been crisscrossing the region, consulting with districts and partners, supervising contractors, monitoring outputs, and writing excellent reports. They were at the heart of programme, and hugely contributed to its achievements.

budget, and account for every single shilling.

This book is just a snapshot of the work that KALIP and the people of Karamoja accomplished from 2010 to 2014. It shows that the development ball is rolling and I am sure it will not be easily stopped. I want to thank the people of Karamoja for embracing this programme, and allowing me to be part of their journey to prosperity.

Our role as PMU in Kampala was to maintain oversight, coordinate procurement, contract management and reporting, link the PMU to OPM, the NAO and the development partner, and ensure the programme’s overall quality. And this was not just for KALIP, but also for its much larger sister programme ALREP. I was lucky to find in the PMU two very experienced technical advisors, Reint Bakema and Ronald Kasozi. Apart from their technical skills, their knowledge of the rules of the European Development Fund have helped to spend 99% of the 51 billion shillings Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

51

KALIP transformed its stories into realities Amb. Kristian Schmidt The European Union has had a special interest in Karamoja over many years and has supported the Government of Uganda’s efforts to bring peace and development to the region. The Karamoja Livelihoods Programme (KALIP) was supported through financing from the 10th European Development Fund and sought to catalyse this process of transformation.

Why has the EU continued to fund development programmes in Karamoja such as KALIP?

Support to Karamoja is based on three main reasons. Firstly, solidarity with the Government of Uganda in its fight to reduce the high poverty levels found in Karamoja; Secondly to assist in quickly demonstrating to the people of Karamoja the benefits of peace and thirdly, to offer sustainable development options in this region of Uganda that is particularly prone to the impact of climate change and unpredictable weather patterns.

How do you assess the performance of KALIP?

We recorganise that KALIP has done an 52

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

excellent job in supporting government efforts in pursuing an accelerated development process for Karamoja. This is the only way of assisting the region

EU Head of Delegation to Uganda - Ambassador Kristian Schmidt

to catch up with the level of development attained by the rest of Uganda How does the EU plan to build on the success of KALIP

Part of the success of KALIP can be attributed to clear dialogue between the EU, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs and The Office of the Prime Minister.

This process was also helped by the highly participatory nature of programme planning and implementation with District Local Governments of Karamoja. The EU will continue to work alongside the Government of Uganda to help it realise its objective of transformation.

Will the EU continue to support development programmes in Karamoja, will there be another KALIP?

The simple answer is “Yes” and we have already initiated consultation with the Government of Uganda’s development partners to determine what form this will take. Donors agreed to avoid any form of support that further reinforces the culture of dependence on food aid as opposed to people producing their own food.

What has been the secret of KALIP achieving so much success?

KALIP was designed at a time when the Government of Uganda put in place special programmes to develop northern Uganda including Karamoja. The National Development Plan (NDP) informed the preparation of the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP) for northern Uganda and so all the outputs of

KALIP were harmonised to respond to these broader plans.

What would be your final word on KALIP?

It is easy to tell stories and talk about possibilities, yet KALIP transformed its stories into realities. All the achievements are evident, out there for all to see and to realise that all things are possible to achieve in Karamoja.

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

53

KALIP/ALREP Staff Left to Right: (Back row) Yeko Francis Lakop (A), Mugerwa Godfrey (K), Reint Bakema (K/A), Alex Gumisiriza (A), Jude Asiimwe (A), Anthony Kyabaggu (K/A), Nsanze Ignatius Kanya (A), Kironde Yowasi (K/A), Julius Mwesigwa (K), Ronald Kasozi (K/A), Peter Loruk (K), Christopher Otena (A), Christopher Birungi (K/A), Lomongin Simon (K), Ewaru David (K), Emmanuel Iyamulemye Niyibigira (K/A), Jimmy Ochien (K), Alastair Taylor (K), Adolf Gerstl (A), Samuel Owen Ocaya (A), Ngorok Godrey (K), Moses Ramadhan (A).

(Front row) Christine Teko (K), Helen Akello (K/A), Doreen Binen (A), Beatrice Arach (A), Faith Nakut Loru (K) and Aminah Ochom (K/A)

KALIP PMU senior management

Dr Emmanuel Iyamulemye Niyibigira, National Programme Coordinator 54

Jimmy Ochien, Programme Coordinator KALIP

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

Alastair Taylor, Technical AdvisorKALIP

Reint Bakema, Chief Technical Advisor

Ronald kasozi, Finance and Administration Technical Advisor

Andrea Ferrero, EU Northern Uganda Operations manager

KALIP par tners KALIP is the first EU funded project in Uganda to go Carbon Neutral

Karamoja Livelihoods Programme

The Karamoja Livelihoods Programme (KALIP) was a â‚Ź15m special programme of the Government of Uganda financed by the European Union.

Implementation started in 2010 and was completed in 2014. During that time KALIP worked in all seven districts of Karamoja and affected the lives of around 250,000 people, or about 20% of the population.

There is hardly a corner of Karamoja that has been left untouched by KALIP. This book contains some of the many stories that could be told.

Office of the Prime Minister New Government Building, Apollo Kagwa Road, Kampala Website: www.opm.nulep.org