Warning: This article has some undertones of questioning (even dissing) the formal education system even though it is not the main purpose of writing it.
Basing on statistics alone, I propose that Karamoja be officially recognized as Uganda’s meat basket. This, considering that one third of all livestock in Uganda is found in Karamoja. Now that I have got that off my chest, we can proceed.
When asked why they are not in school, the young Shepherd’s answer is a standard, “Who will take care of the animals, then?”
It sounds like a simple question but it is not. While attempting to answer this question, consider this statistic, again: One third of Uganda’s livestock population is in Karamoja region. This region that is considered to be the poorest in Uganda, makes the biggest contribution to Uganda’s meat industry. All in the face of water shortage due to seasons of drought and prolonged dry spells; livestock diseases and inadequate veterinary services.
It is upon this question, “Who will take care of the animals, then” that we should open our eyes to the immense sacrifice on which Karamoja’s, and by extension, Uganda’s livestock industry actually stands.
The Karimojong gives his whole life to the production of livestock, right from childhood and well into his old age. They simply cannot delegate this role.
This is at the sacrifice of formal education, which many agree is quite important (I have opposing views for which I may be lynched, but for today’s sake, I will say that formal education is important)
If we cannot address the question of “who will keep the animals, then?” We should first calm down, reorganize ourselves and come back with a more appealing strategy towards convincing the Karimojong about the relevance of formal education; this very same system that is not even serving most of us. Because if this system were really as great as it is claimed, how come up to today, no one has yet developed a working strategy to aid the adoption of education in Karamoja?
Pastoralism, then, is not the problem but building an education system that meets the Karimojong at where he is. Of course taking the time to find an education system that works is a lot of hard work therefore blaming the Karimojong for “refusing to go to school” is the easier option.
The fact is, as it stands, there is no other system that has yet been proven to be more suitable than pastoralism for keeping livestock in Karamoja. The Karimojong should then not be vilified for and claimed to be “backward” or looked down upon for “valuing cattle over education”, but in fact be thanked for keeping the national herd very well and ensuring a never-ending supply of livestock for Uganda’s meat economy.
Meanwhile, the children are happy and they take pride in their work, as you can see from the pictures here. Obviously, a small piece of work from which one derives meaning is more important than an expensive education that kills ones creativity, talents and innate skills. Things which I have found to actually exist among the traditional Karimojong.
Yours truly,
Anna Grace
0 thoughts on “ACCURATELY QUANTIFYING KARAMOJA’S CONTRIBUTION TO UGANDA’S MEAT ECONOMY”
The Karamoja question that must be answered? If cattle keeping is their life,who would not raid if your life depended on what you don’t have but others have in plenty?
🤔 Interesting. I had not put raiding into perspective and yet that’s one very important thing to factor in. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.