KAMPALA — The Government of Uganda, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and development partners have begun consultations on a five-year programme aimed at transforming livestock production, strengthening peacebuilding and building resilience in the Karamoja sub-region.
The proposed Integrated Livestock Development, Peacebuilding and Resilience Enhancement for Sustainable Livelihoods in Karamoja (ILPRE-Karamoja) programme is expected to run from January 2027 to December 2031.
The initiative was unveiled on Friday, August 14, 2026, during a National Consultative Workshop on the Joint Karamoja Programme convened by the IGAD Mission to Uganda in Naguru, Kampala.
Speaking at the workshop, Ms. Joselyn Bigirwa, Head of the IGAD Mission to Uganda, said the programme emerged from engagements between IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu and Gen. Salim Saleh, followed by guidance from the Office of the President.
Bigirwa said ILPRE-Karamoja will consolidate and scale gains made under the IGAD Drylands Strategy and the 14-year Karamoja Integrated Development Programme.
The programme is built around five strategic pillars: enhancing livestock productivity; sustainable cross-border management of grazing lands and water resources; conflict prevention; strengthening market systems; and improving land-use governance.
It will also deliberately target the inclusion of women and youth, with IGAD stressing that communities should be active drivers of development rather than passive beneficiaries.
Programme to Work Within Uganda’s Development Frameworks
Implementation of ILPRE-Karamoja will be anchored in Uganda’s existing national development frameworks, including the Karamoja Integrated Development Programme and the Fourth National Development Plan.
IGAD will coordinate with Operation Wealth Creation, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supported by a multi-agency technical steering committee bringing together experts in livestock development, climate services, conflict early warning, migration, food policy, trade and monitoring and evaluation.
The Karamoja Development Partners Group also called for development financing to move beyond conventional livestock interventions, urging greater investment in animal health, water infrastructure, rangeland management, value addition and market access.
The group noted that peace and social cohesion remain essential for communities to access markets, education and health services.
Foreign Affairs Ministry Calls for Stronger Coordination
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Edith Namutebi Nsubuga, Head of the Peace and Security Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to stability in Karamoja and other border regions.
She linked security and economic transformation, arguing that a stable environment is necessary for development actors to concentrate on livelihoods and resilience.
“Government remains committed to providing an enabling security environment so that development actors can prioritize livelihoods and resilience,” Dr. Namutebi Nsubuga said.
She acknowledged that previous interventions under the Karamoja Integrated Development Programme attracted substantial investment but called for improved coordination, sharper prioritisation and stronger accountability.
Namutebi identified four immediate priorities: stronger coordination between security and development actors, promoting community ownership, accelerating economic empowerment to reduce aid dependency, and disciplined implementation of the 2027–2031 programme.
Shs15.1 Trillion Regional Development Plan
The consultations come as Uganda implements the Karamoja Regional Development Plan, a 10-year framework approved by Cabinet on July 21, 2025.
According to Ms. Brenda Apio, Senior Economist at the National Planning Authority, the plan seeks to transition Karamoja from a predominantly nomadic and agro-pastoral economy into a more settled and commercially viable economy by 2035.
The plan responds to challenges including a reported 74.2 percent poverty rate, food insecurity and infrastructure deficits identified in the 2023/24 National Household Survey.
Valued at Shs15.1 trillion, the regional plan proposes major investments including Kidepo International Airport, an industrial park and cement plants in Moroto, meat and hides processing facilities in Kotido, and a Karamoja Peace and Technology University.
It also proposes expanded boarding facilities for universal primary and secondary education, subsidised tertiary tuition for Karimojong students and a dedicated water budget for the sub-region.
Community-Led Development Model
The workshop also highlighted examples of community-led economic development in Karamoja.
Mr. Rony Oved, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AgroMax Uganda Ltd, presented the Sustainable Business Development Initiative (SBDI), a cooperative and mechanised agriculture model operating across 11 villages and 370 households in Nakapiripirit District.
Oved cited the experience of the Tokora Community Association, whose members used proceeds from agricultural activities to rehabilitate tractors and water infrastructure after the conclusion of NUSAF III.
The enterprises have continued operating without external support, with members maintaining assets, earning incomes and attracting new partnerships.
The experience was presented as evidence that locally owned institutions can remain viable when communities have access to strong foundational systems.
Participants concluded that ILPRE-Karamoja, aligned with the Regional Development Plan, provides a framework for addressing Karamoja’s development challenges through productive livestock systems, conflict mitigation and resilient livelihoods.
However, they stressed that the programme’s success will depend on prioritised interventions, effective coordination and community leadership.
