1. The effects of reduced Precipitation and Vegetation cover on Food Security and Conflict Dynamics in Karamoja Pastoral Area, Uganda Presentation by Victor Onenchan Area Coordinator –ACTED, Northern Uganda

2. Presentations Background to Karamoja Climate change Variables in Karamoja Food Security in Karamoja (Accessibility and Physical availability of food) Climate change and conflicts in Karamoja What has been done so far? Set backs to current efforts; What can be done?

3. Karamoja Region Located in North Eastern Part of Uganda Estimated population of 942,363 Karamoja has been administratively divided into five districts; Kaabong, Abim, Kotido, Moroto and Nakapiriprit The most striking physical features of the region are: a vast major erosion surface known as the Karamoja plain, Mountain Masses (mainly volcanic) that abruptly emerge from this plain, and the broad sandy beds of fast rising intermittent rivers that form the drainage system of the plain and the scattered vegetation.

4. Agro -ecological / Livelihoods Zones of Karamoja

5. Climate change variables: Precipitation and Vegetation cover cover Precipitation  Rainfall is unpredictable . It is erratic and has torrential down pours  Very short rainy seasons and long dry spells  No permanent surface water  Rainy seasons Temperatures (18-200 C MINIMUM) and (28-300 C Maximum)  Dry season temperatures go well beyond 38 C sometimes up to 42 C Vegetation  Reduction in Vegetation cover by (4-8%) in the last 10years  Change from Savannah grassland to steppe to Thickets and Shrubs  Massive soil erosion/ gullies

6. FOOD SECURITY Definition and Concept: Food Security: Based on the definition from the1996 World Food Summit security is defined as when all the people, at all the time, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life Crop production restricted to Green and yellow belt and Livestock restricted to Red and Yellow belts Single cropping season (April- September) with inter space of dry season (June and July) WFP first responds in 1963 Droughts In 1982,83, 86, 87, 91, 92, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006/7, expected in 2009-01-19 2002/ 2003 there was Elnino phenomenon (Effect of Climate change causing rains from Indian Ocean) PPR outbreaks in Karamoja

7. The Implication of low precipitation on Primary Productivity CropsLivestock 1 Only short maturity crops can grow well (Epuripur) 1) Increased migratory movements towards Kenya and inside Uganda (Teso, Lango and Acholi Area) 2 Small ecological footprint to supply the all Karamoja region 2) Increased frequency of conflict over natural resources and raids 3 Large parts of the productive areas are degazetted for Wildlife protection 3) Increased mortality of livestock 4 Continuous crop failures a disincentive to farmers to more production 5 Increase in Population (3.2% compared to the 2.4% average for sub-Saharan Africa)

8. Markets and Market Prices in Karamoja Most goods (fresh foods) in the markets come from outside Karamoja Insecurity high on roads Limited variety in the markets Prices are exorbitantly high (E.G 1kg of beans is 1EUR and yet in Mbale (50 Scents) Households without livestock to sell are suffering People eat wild foods, sell fire wood…….which are signs of deepening food security Increase in gross acute Malnutrition High Infant mortality Early Marriages Out migration (Begging inn the streets of Mbale and Kampala) (60% of beggars in Kampala are from Karamoja

9. Security in Karamoja 1) Natural Resource Conflict 2) Banditry Raiding PastRaiding Present Raiding as a survival responds (after famine of livestock diseases) when stock are depleted, (done for restocking) Any time is raiding time, for economic gains Closed only within KaramojaRaiding within and Neighbours Controlled by Council of eldersControlled by youth who have power(Money) Use of spears and non lethal weaponsguns Not self-centred (for community)Self centred

10. Guns in Karamoja (?) Issues at hand:  Increase conflict between the Karamojongs and Neighbours  Increased conflict within Karamoja  Break down of civil order and civil including social organizational hierarchy (Powerful youth have emerged suppressing elders)  Increased Banditry

11. What has been done?  Government establishing Ministry for Karamoja  Cordon and search Operation by the UPDF  KIDDP  WFP doing Food Distribution  Donors EC and ECHO, (DMI and DP2)- ACTED implementing activities

12. Set backs to current efforts  Rapid population growth rate in Karamoja (3.2%)  Limited Government Budgetary allocation to the Ministry in charge of Karamoja  There is no Contingency plan and no contingency funs in place for Karamoja  General policies not specific to Karamoja  Too much time required –because of the conservativeness of our society

13. What can be done?  Specific Policies to Karamoja situation needs to be developed  Seek sustainable solutions to Karamoja problem (Engaged in regional Solution for the gun paradox)  Environmental decision making processes needs to be effected from the grass roots  Develop a contingency plan in place for Karamoja  Partners should look for more sustainable solutions rather than Food Aid