Karamoja with the Rest of 'The Rest of Uganda'

Abstract

The setting of abstract impossible goals turns the means by which these goals are to be achieved into ends (Illich 1973: 40).In a paper on development interventions in Karamoja, presented at a large conference on African pastoralism, the author draws attention to the tendency of focusing on 'technical' targets, defi ned in abstract, with little connection to the production systems and the societies of producers on the ground. Examples of this kind of 'system-blind' approach discussed in the paper include the prevention of bush burning in order to fi ght soil erosion, the construction of dams and valleytanks in order to increase production, as well as initiatives for the control of animal disease, and for disarmament. In each case, the author examines the long-term effects of interventions showing how, once integrated into the actual (but ignored) context of production and social dynamics on the ground, the 'solution' in principle resulted in even bigger problems in practice. System-blind cessation of burning lowered the nutritional value of dry-season grazing, while favouring bush encroachment and the spreading of ticks and tsetse fl ies. System-blind water development resulted in large-scale soil erosion and the dramatic disappearance of perennial grasses, as well as social unrest as the stocking rates supported by the expansion of accessible dry-season rangelands at the periphery of Karamoja became unsustainable for the (unexpanded) central belt during the wet season. System-blind control of epizootics triggered even more unsustainable herd growth rates (as well as topdown destocking measures unmatched by existing marketing infrastructure). With droughts, crops failed as expected, but now in the areas where the annual grasses had replaced the perennials, exceptionally large stock numbers were left without fodder. As the introduction of dysfunctional relationships in the production and livelihood systems at the regional level triggered abnormal outbursts of violence, system-blind law-enforcement measures were focusing on disarmament and punishment, exacerbating and expanding, rather than reducing, the reasons that had triggered the increase in violence in the fi rst place.That paper was published almost forty years ago (Baker 1975). In fact, Baker writes about development measures pursued in Uganda under the British administration including water development in Karamoja with dams and valleytanks, a modernization idea from 1938, 1 the successful fi ght against the East Coast Fever, 'the great drought of the early 1950s' and those of 1961 and

Drivers of forage availability: An integration of remote sensing and traditional ecological knowledge in Karamoja sub-region, Uganda

“…Karamoja is part of the 'cattle corridor' of Uganda and epitomizes the semiarid conditions in the country. Over time, the sub-region has been presented as an exceptional situation area, disconnected from 'the rest of Uganda' in cultural and economic terms, and desperately needing to 'catch up' (Kratli 2010). The sub-region receives variable rainfall in the range of 400 to 800 mm though some areas around the highlands (Mounts Moroto, Kadam, and Iriiri and the Labwor ranges) may receive up to 1,000 mm per annum (Mubiru 2010;Anderson and Robinson 2009).…”

“…Rather, more support is being channelled into settled crop farming through distribution of seeds and farm implements. Earlier observations by Barker in the 1970s about the pastoral production system in Karamoja urged for understanding of the pastoral production system 'as a working model' rather than dismissing it in principle as 'a practice' that needs to be replaced (Kratli 2010). …”

“…Hill et al 2004;Tubiello et al 2007;Cullen et al 2009;Seaquist et al 2009) have examined the effect climate has on pastures from a biophysical perspective, and as a result, less attention has been given to the integration of local knowledge in such studies. The outcome of such investigations has been prescriptive policies and 'system blind' interventions that have created even worse-off problems (Burnaby and Gibson 2003;Kratli 2010). In Karamoja, for example, there has been a setting of abstract interventions that focus on 'technical' targets with little connection to the pastoral production system and the societies of the producers on the ground (Kratli 2010).…”

“…In Karamoja, for example, there has been a setting of abstract interventions that focus on 'technical' targets with little connection to the pastoral production system and the societies of the producers on the ground (Kratli 2010). Further, several agencies including the government of Uganda have ended focusing on the delivery of 'hardware' (borehole construction, pans and dams) with limited attention given to 'software' (traditional institutions and management arrangements) (Stites et al 2007;Kratli 2010;Czuba 2011).…”

This Research does not Influence Policy

“…The tendency of an oral culture to repeat phrases like poetry appears unskilled to those for whom the written report has its own, quite different, protocols. Historic encounters and formal research have long situated these people as poor and powerless (Kratli 2010;. Donors, government and NGOs would expect Karimojong to complain from their subaltern position, yet would largely consider such criticism ill informed.…”