The most celebrated Karimojong food anthem, “Emomwae bon ka nya-ite,” literally accentuating the ethnography of sorghum and cow as the socio-economic nucleus for Karamoja, has now become the epicenter of ‘akoro’ (hunger).
The Integrated Food Security Assessment Report classified all nine (9) districts (39%) under IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), with food inadequacy at 60%. Indeed, children at risk of death from malnutrition (SAM) are at 44%, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (2024).
Though the Government of Uganda, through NDP III (2021–2025), has been promoting maize, beans, millet, and other food crops with potential to boost agro-economic transformation, Karamoja’s situation is still dwindling. Even the most staple food crops like sorghum, simsim, sunflower, and meat have not realized any full potential in sustainable production and value addition.
Worse still, drought-tolerant traditional foods like cucumber (ŋakolil), pumpkins (ŋakaidei), Solanum pimpinellifolium (Lolaarin), dried beef (ŋatoosa), and other indigenous foods that fed the ŋiKarimojong for decades are unheard of in hunger elimination projects in the sub-region. What then can Karamoja call its staple food or food sovereignty amidst a food crisis?
A staple food, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), refers to food that is routinely consumed and provides at least 10% of total energy intake. It is considered to be easily accessible, versatile, and essential for sustenance and resilience. Karamoja’s situation is worse—lack of food means malnutrition or risk of death.
In a meeting of the Karamoja Regional Agricultural Research and Development Learning Group (KARD-LG) on 10th April 2025 in Nabilatuk District, NARO confirmed that a lot of research has been done on drought-tolerant seeds. However, they expressed concern over the limited certified seed access points for local farmers. Indeed, during the 4th Parliamentary Nutrition Week stakeholder meeting held in Moroto Chamber Hall on 27th May 2025, field findings indicated that farmers still rely on locally developed seeds during the planting season.
While traversing the flat grasslands of Kadam, through the atmospheric plains of Napak/Moroto mountain bottoms to the humid ranges of Karenga, you might feel as though the third stanza of the Uganda National Anthem was written here. I strongly believe that Karamoja can feed itself with Karamoja! When people are supported to develop what they already understand (simple food security), they will, over time, be able to progressively adopt other high-value crops with export potential, as highlighted in NDP IV (2026–2025).
Karamoja has sincerely been a centre of food security intervention projects from both government and development actors, but it may be the most appropriate time to focus on intentional, consistent, and locally-led solutions to combat the food crisis.
My recommendation to the government and development actors is to undertake research and development of indigenous food systems—from production to value addition—and support the implementation of policy frameworks that facilitate their sustainability.
Written by Mr. DANIEL Lowalem Apaalotwal
Director, Ateker Development Organization (ATEDO), an Indigenous Research and Development Organization in Karamoja
atedoyok@gmail.com / 0779 223 203
