Karamoja Leaders Criticize Government's Goat and Iron Sheet Distribution Initiative in the Region.

Local leaders in Kotido District, the most impoverished and hunger-stricken district in Karamoja Sub-region, have revealed that the government did not conduct a thorough needs assessment to determine whether distributing goats and iron sheets would effectively alleviate poverty in the area.

According to the leaders, there were no consultations conducted by either the Office of the Prime Minister or other central government ministries to ascertain the priority needs of the Karimojong people before implementing this initiative.

Mr. Moding said, “The goats and iron sheets projects were not a demand-driven intervention. These top-down approaches are failing here because what is delivered is imposed onto the people without seeking to know what works for them”.

“Besides agricultural modernisation, they needed to consider addressing insecurity at the porous border to block guns from being smuggled into the sub-region. This would enable peace and stability, which in turn would lead to prosperity,” she said.

There has been a recent controversy surrounding the distribution of iron sheets to vulnerable people in Karamoja.

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit arrested family members of Goretti Kitutu, the Karamoja Affairs Minister, for allegedly selling the branded roofing materials. It is reported that a large number of individuals, including high-ranking officials such as Vice President Jesca Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, first deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga, third deputy Prime Minister Rukia Nakadama, and Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, have already received thousands of these iron sheets.

Local leaders in Kotido District, the most impoverished and hunger-stricken district in Karamoja Sub-region, have revealed that the government did not conduct a thorough needs assessment to determine whether distributing goats and iron sheets would effectively alleviate poverty in the area.

According to the leaders, there were no consultations conducted by either the Office of the Prime Minister or other central government ministries to ascertain the priority needs of the Karimojong people before implementing this initiative.

Mr. Moding said, “The goats and iron sheets projects were not a demand-driven intervention. These top-down approaches are failing here because what is delivered is imposed onto the people without seeking to know what works for them”.

“Besides agricultural modernisation, they needed to consider addressing insecurity at the porous border to block guns from being smuggled into the sub-region. This would enable peace and stability, which in turn would lead to prosperity,” she said.

There has been a recent controversy surrounding the distribution of iron sheets to vulnerable people in Karamoja.

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit arrested family members of Goretti Kitutu, the Karamoja Affairs Minister, for allegedly selling the branded roofing materials. It is reported that a large number of individuals, including high-ranking officials such as Vice President Jesca Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, first deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga, third deputy Prime Minister Rukia Nakadama, and Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, have already received thousands of these iron sheets.