Kampala, Uganda – East Africa

By Counsel Twinobusingye Severino

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) recently launched yet another emergency food relief operation for the Karamoja sub-region. As has become far too common, this intervention follows prolonged dry conditions that have devastated crops, leading to severe food scarcity and hunger-related fatalities. Relief food was delivered to Loduku and Loyoru sub-counties in Kaabong District, with plans to extend emergency assistance to Kotido, Napak, Amudat, and Moroto districts, where harvests have failed to yield.

A Recurrent Water Crisis

Located in North-eastern Uganda, the Karamoja sub-region experiences low, sporadic rainfall (ranging between 350mm and 1,000mm annually) alongside high year-round temperatures. While major rivers such as Acolcol, Dopeth, Kitorosi, Moroto, and Okere pass through the region, all these are seasonal rivers. They dry up completely during dry spells, leaving communities without basic water supplies.

Uganda, as a country, is blessed with abundant natural beauty: lakes, rivers, and mountains cover roughly 15% of its surface area, and its freshwater resources are supported by two distinct rainy seasons. However, these natural water reservoirs are unevenly distributed. Because of irregular rainfall and seasonal rivers, farming in the Karamoja is exceptionally difficult. Yet, the sub-region possesses massive potential to become a major national and regional food basket. Traditionally a livestock farming region, Karamoja could easily dominate Africa’s beef and dairy sectors if its water challenge were permanently solved.

Impact Beyond Karamoja

This crisis is not confined to Karamoja alone; it regularly spills over into the neighbouring Teso sub-region:

• Human impact: Research shows over 70% of households in Karamoja have limited access to water, surviving on less than 20 litres per person per day. Locals often walk up to 15 kilometres to fetch water from severely depleted sources.
• Livestock losses: In Katakwi District, prolonged dry spells have led to severe pasture and water scarcity, causing disease outbreaks and animal deaths. Reports indicated that over 1,000 livestock died in Katakwi following four months of drought, with sub-counties losing 5 to 10 animals daily.
• Resource conflicts: As water sources dry up, pastoralists are forced to roam neighbouring communities in search of pasture and water, frequently triggering localised disputes.

Moving Beyond Temporary Solutions

To address this ongoing crisis, the Government and its development partners previously introduced targeted water interventions through initiatives such as the Comprehensive Disarmament Program (CDP). These included drilling boreholes and constructing valley dams, tanks, and ponds. While these efforts brought short-term relief, high evaporation rates, climate change, and prolonged dry spells mean the underlying challenge persists, continually constraining agriculture and rural livelihoods.

The KAPATU Bulk Water Supply Initiative

To create a permanent solution, the Karamoja Peace and Technology University (KAPATU) Project, an initiative of the Catholic Lawyers Society International (CLSI), the Catholic Dioceses of Kotido and Moroto, through the Faculty for Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and the Faculty of Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering, has introduced a transformative infrastructure project.

Working alongside international partners, notably VCE Company from Israel, and the Ministry of Water and Environment, KAPATU seeks to invest €150 million (approx. UGX 750 Billion) to extend a bulk water supply network across the Karamoja and Teso sub-regions.

A Presidential Initiative: Guided by H.E. Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of Uganda, in his capacity as Founding Chancellor of KAPATU, this initiative aims to connect piped water directly to every Ere (Homestead), Awii (Kraal), and Elain (Trading Centre).

Long-Term Benefits for the Sub-Region

1. Settled Communities: By bringing water directly to villages, pastoralist families can remain in one place rather than migrating seasonally during dry spells.
2. Agricultural Transformation: Guaranteed water for irrigation allows local farmers to grow crops reliably throughout the year and build a thriving livestock industry.
3. Livelihood and community welfare: Reliable domestic water access eliminates the need for women and girls to undertake long and dangerous journeys to fetch water, hence creating time for education and economic opportunities.
4. Social & Economic Development: Stable water access provides the foundation necessary to build lasting local services, including hospitals, schools, and commercial hubs.

Through this sustainable KAPATU Bulk Water Infrastructure, Karamoja and Teso can move away from emergency food relief and achieve long-term socio-economic transformation.

The writer is the President of Catholic Lawyers Society International (CLSI) and Chairperson of KAPATU Council.