Karamoja Turns Corner Toward Peace and Economic Growth – UPDF Commander

Karamoja– The Karamoja sub-region is steadily shedding its legacy of insecurity and underdevelopment and embracing a future anchored in peace, stability and economic transformation, the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) 3rd Infantry Division Commander, Maj Gen Wilberforce Karate Sserunkuma, has said.

Maj Gen Sserunkuma made the remarks at the close of a 10-day domestic study and research tour by course members and staff of the National Defence College–Uganda (NDC-U), who have been traversing Karamoja and other parts of the country to assess national security and development dynamics.

The tour, which commenced on December 8, 2025, took the delegation to selected industrial and strategic sites, including Tembo Steels in Iganga, the SINO–Uganda Industrial Hub in Mbale, the Soroti Solar Power Project, Sunbelt Cement Factory and Sandbelt Marble Mining in Moroto, as well as Kidepo Valley National Park in Karenga District.

In a message delivered on his behalf by the Division Operations and Training Officer, Col Santurino Tumuranzye, Maj Gen Sserunkuma said the era of cattle raiding and prolonged underdevelopment in Karamoja had decisively ended.

“Gone are the days of cattle raids. The long-held belief that Karamoja would wait indefinitely for development is now history,” he said, noting that the sub-region is increasingly emerging as a key contributor to Uganda’s economic base.

He attributed the transformation to sustained government interventions, particularly the disarmament programme, improved security, and the rollout of socio-economic initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, the Youth Livelihood Programme, and continuous civic education. According to the Division Commander, these efforts have triggered a significant mindset shift among communities, with many residents abandoning cattle raiding in favour of agriculture, mining, industrial activities and trade.

Maj Gen Sserunkuma also expressed appreciation to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, for his visionary leadership, citing the establishment of the National Defence College–Uganda as a critical investment in building strategic leadership for national security.

The Dean of Studies at NDC-U, Brig Gen Kefa Nangeso, who led the delegation, said observations from the study tour confirmed that Karamoja is on a positive trajectory in both security and economic development.

Brig Gen Nangeso emphasized that national security transcends military considerations, encompassing social, economic and cultural dimensions. He described Karamoja as a region of geo-strategic importance, endowed with a unique environment and diverse economic activities that strengthen its social and economic foundations, with direct implications for Uganda’s overall national security.

Local leaders echoed similar sentiments. Amudat District Local Council V Chairperson, Mr Joseph Labot Nangole, commended the collaboration between the UPDF, other security agencies and local communities, saying it had significantly improved peace and stability.

“Karamoja is no longer a backward region,” Mr Nangole said.

Meanwhile, the Local Council III Chairperson for Lotisan Sub-county, Mr John Robert Adupa Akiiki, noted a drastic reduction in youth involvement in cattle raiding, with many young people now engaged in productive economic activities. He called for intensified civic education to sustain the gains and prevent a relapse into negative practices.

The delegation comprised senior directing staff from NDC-U, officials from the UPDF 3 Infantry Division, local government leaders and other stakeholders drawn from across the Karamoja sub-region.