Changing roles, shifting risks: livelihood impacts of disarmament in Karamoja, Uganda

This report examines the role of disarmament policies in changes in livelihood systems of the population in the Karamoja region of northeastern Uganda.  The following topics are covered:

• Disarmament and human rights abuses
• Perceptions of disarmament as a goal in and of itself
• Impacts of disarmament on livelihoods
• Impacts of disarmament on security for the rural communities in Karamoja.
  

The authors also provide a section on the implications for shifting gender and generational roles, relations and responsibilities. Throughout this discussion the nature of the existing protection gap in Karamoja is also examined.

The authors provide a number of conclusions/recommendations, including: 

• Disarmament is needed in Karamoja and must be uniform and complete
  

• The introduction of kraals at barracks addresses some of the problems of inadequate protection for livestock that arose in the 2001-2002 disarmament and in the first period of the current disarmament

• The physical abuses and arbitrary and illegal detention that continue to be part of disarmament at the barracks level must stop.

• International actors working in Karamoja must include vigorous advocacy with national and district authorities, including the security sector, to generate increased recognition of the needs in the region and respect for the population

• Outreach and learning by actors is critical – relatively few assessments of local priorities have been done in the region, particularly in remote areas or those considered insecure.