This article provides background on the Government of Uganda's disarmament campaign in Karamoja. We discuss the recent history of and motivations for the disarmament campaign, and the experiences and perceptions of local communities as they adjust to a changing security and livelihoods environment. We focus on the emergence of protected kraals as an indicator of the impacts of disarmament on local lives and livelihoods, even while recognizing that the protected kraals are themselves in transition due to shifts in military priorities and practice. We look both at intended effects and unintended externalities caused by the disarmament campaign, including increased sedentarization and associated shifts away from pastoral production, shifts in gendered divisions of labour and responsibility within households, and the substantial infl ux of humanitarian assistance into the region. Lastly, we consider the alignment of donor and government priorities and policies over the next fi ve years, and the likely impacts for development and security.

For the latter decades of the last century, the Karamoja region of north-eastern Uganda was infamous as a place of violent cattle raids and road ambushes, populated by fierce warriors. Using primary data, this article examines the shifts from large-scale raiding to opportunistic theft as well as the profound transformation in the security environment over the past 10 years. We argue that the combination of a top-down sustained disarmament campaign and grassroots peace resolutions have created relative stability for the first time in decades. This stability has allowed for the expansion of markets, investments by national and international actors, and the rejuvenation of livelihoods for many residents. However, while large-scale violent cattle raids are largely a thing of the past, violence and insecurity have shifted to the domestic sphere in the form of small-scale but pervasive thefts and rampant domestic violence.

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Towns in northern Karamoja, Uganda, are growing due to an expanding commercial sector, shifts in livestock-based rural livelihoods, and the economic and social appeal of urban life. This article presents qualitative data from 83 individual migrants to Abim, Kaabong and Kotido, the three largest towns in northern Karamoja. The research aimed to better understand the factors behind migration, the livelihood strategies pursued by those moving to towns and the opportunities and challenges associated with urban life. The data show that the majority of respondents in urban centres retained links to their rural communities: these connections allowed migrants to access key assets such as land, social networks and food, and allowed rural residents to receive remittances and other forms of support. Those who were not able to maintain ties to their rural homes or families were frequently the most vulnerable; most were widowed or abandoned women. Reasons for migration included household-level shocks, such as the loss of livestock or the death of a family member, as well as food insecurity or 'hunger'. Towns are attractive destinations because of their economic opportunities and potential for a better life. However, many respondents struggled with the cost of living in towns and worked multiple ad hoc and low-skilled jobs in order to get by. While rural linkages were important for populations in both areas, most respondents did not envision returning to their rural areas. Urban planning and services have not kept pace with migratory patterns.

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