The Karamoja sub-region is steadily transitioning from a history of insecurity to a pathway of peace and economic development, driven by sustained government interventions and improved security, the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) 3 Infantry Division Commander, Maj Gen Wilberforce Karate Sserunkuma, has said.
The remarks were made at the conclusion of a 10-day domestic study and research tour by the National Defence College-Uganda course members and staff in Karamoja, during which they interacted with local communities and district leaders.
The tour, which began on December 8, 2025, covered selected industrial and strategic sites across the country, 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,, the Division Commander said that the era of cattle raiding and prolonged underdevelopment in Karamoja had come to an end.
“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 region was emerging as an important contributor to Uganda’s economic base.
He attributed the transformation to the government’s disarmament programme, improved security, and the rollout of socio-economic initiatives including the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, the Youth Livelihood Programme, and sustained civic education. These interventions, he said, had triggered a mindset change among communities, with many residents shifting from cattle raiding to agriculture, mining, industrial activity and trade.
He expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, for his visionary leadership, particularly in establishing the National Defence College–Uganda (NDC-U) to train strategic leaders in national security.
The Dean of Studies at NDC-U, Brig Gen Kefa Nangeso, who led the delegation, said that findings from the study tour confirmed that Karamoja was on the right trajectory in terms of both national security and economic development.
Brig Gen Nangeso observed that national security encompassed all spheres of life and described Karamoja as a region of geo-strategic importance due to its unique environment and diverse economic activities, which have strengthened its social, cultural and economic foundations, with direct implications for national security.
The Amudat District Local Council V Chairperson, Mr Joseph Labot Nangole, commended the cooperation between the UPDF, other security agencies and the local population, saying it had significantly improved security and stability. “Karamoja is no longer a backward region,” he said.
Similarly, the Local Council III Chairperson for Lotisan Sub-county, Mr John Robert Adupa Akiiki, said youth involvement in cattle raiding had drastically reduced, with many now engaged in productive economic activities. He called for increased civic education to ensure the youth remain focused and do not relapse into negative practices.
The delegation included senior directing staff from NDC-U, alongside officials from the UPDF 3 Infantry Division, local government leaders and other stakeholders from across the Karamoja sub-region.
