Karamoja leaders root for mindset change as key factor of dev’t

MOROTO –A cross cross-section of leaders in Karamoja Sub-region have urged government and development partners to focus on mindset change campaigns if meaningful development is to be achieved in the region characterised by poverty and hunger.

This comes at a time when Karamoja Sub-region is struggling with absolute poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition, especially among children and women.

Despite being rich in minerals, Uganda Bureau of Statistics [UBOS] report of June 2022 ranks Karamoja, located in the northeast of Uganda, as one of the poorest regions in the country with an income poverty rate standing at 66 percent up from 61 percent in 2017, more than three times the national poverty rate of 21 percent.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification [IPC] Food Security and Nutrition Snapshot of March-July, 2022, puts the malnutrition rate in Karamoja orchestrated by food insecurity at 40 percent.

This has left the leaders wondering what can be done to change the high rate of poverty and malnutrition in the region endowed with a number of minerals.

Moroto Municipality MP, Muhammad Ismail Lomwar told this reporter in an interview that focus on changing the mindset of the Karamoja people should be the chore of government and development partners’ initiatives towards alleviating poverty amongst the rural population of Karamoja.

He explained that over the years, npn-governmental organisations [NGOs] and government have put emphasis on introducing micro and macro-economic models to solve socio-economic problems that the people face but no major successes have been achived.

“Because many government and NGOs programmes and projects tend to treat mindset change in a lukewarm manner, many times, they have failed to achieve their objectives,” Lomwar said.

The legislator emphasised that unless the issue of mindset change is taken as important, Karamoja will always lag behind other regions in the country in terms of development.

Joseph Lokut, the Kaboong district LCV vice chairperson described mindset change as a key component towards the attainment of development for any community in the country. He cited countries like South Korea where mindset change campaigns conducted at a national level played a significant role in national development.

“If meaningful development and socio-economic development, in Karamoja sub-region like central region, mindset change should be viewed as a critical ingredient,” said Lokut.

The Nabilatuk district LCV chairperson, Paul Lokol said development in Karamoja will be achieved only if local people’s mindsets are transformed.

According to him, even if governments and development partners introduce as many development programmes, no tangible results cannot be achieved without having people’s mindsets worked on to embrace the programmes.

“People’s minds have to be transformed to enable them to participate in programmes meant for them. “Education, training and development are key in that respective order. To realise the intended objectives of any activity or programme, there is a need to have all three in place,” stated Lokol.

Ambrose Onoria, the RDC Kotido district asked the people of Karamoja to embrace a productive mindset rather than a defensive, saying it is counterproductive.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Karamoja Affairs Dr. Mary Gorreti Kitutu reiterated government’s continued commitment to change the mindset of rural Karamojong people so that they embrace development.

She said some warriors in Karamoja think cattle rustling is a source of livelihood, instead of engaging in agricultural production and other income-generating activities such as business.

She said the ongoing disarmament programme, conducted by joint security forces, is one of government interventions meant to establish peace and security in Karamoja so that the local people engage in production.

Kitutu also commended Karamoja leaders for proposing to have compulsory education for the youth who constitute the highest percentage of cattle warriors, saying their proposal is being discussed by cabinet.

The minister challenged the leadership of Karamoja sub-region never to relent in preaching the gospel of peace.

She explained that development in any area cannot be achieved without stability and peace.

https://thecooperator.news/karamoja-leaders-to-end-cross-border-criminality/

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