DR. AYUB MUKISA: Karamoja: How can we improve ‘our’ sub-region to avoid shame?

I know there are many people who might wonder why I am writing all these articles on Karamoja to the extent of using the phrase “our” Karamoja. But let me begin by informing my readers that I have lived in Karamoja for 19 years, starting from 2006 when I first arrived in Moroto town.

I have had the opportunity to interact with different categories of people in Karamoja, both high and low class, working with them, living with them, and even suffering with them. In this article, I will pose a question to my readers: How can we improve the status of “our” Karamoja Sub-region? If I am to begin from 1921 when a British District Commissioner was posted to Karamoja, marking the beginning of colonial civil administration, the status of children, women, and men in the Karamoja region has been appalling.

This implies that the subregion has been facing substantial struggles for decades. To make matters worse, when I was scrutinizing the 2024 Primary Leaving Examination results (PLE), the Karamoja Sub-region experienced the poorest performance, painting a negative picture of the subregion. The question is, what could be the problem, and how can we improve the status of Karamoja?

There is no doubt that Karamoja’s situation can change in any manyatta at any time. Why? The government and donors have the will to allocate resources to Karamoja.

However, to truly change the face of Karamoja, there is a need for critical thinking, critical analysis, and critique. Critical thinking will help individuals think in a purposeful and focused manner, ultimately leading to problem solving (Moore & Parker, 2012; Sternberg, 1986,).

Critical analysis can help establish a culture of good governance and prevent the mis-use of government resources. Critique is constructive and can offer suggestions in a kind and honest way for improvement on what to do (Bowman, 2020).

As food for thought, critical thinking, critical analysis, and critique are powerful tools for solving problems affecting societal change.

My appeal is for donors, government officials, and stakeholders in the Karamoja sub region to apply these concepts, as they engage citizens in their day-to-day activities. However, as you utilize these concepts, do not forget what I refer to as the “Karamojalisation of Karamoja for the Karamojong.”

Dr. Ayub Mukisa (PhD)- Executive Director for Karamoja Anti-Corruption Coalition (KACC)
Email: ayubmukisa@gmail.com