Karamoja leaders protest exclusion from EU project

A section of leaders in Karamoja Sub-region have questioned the criteria used by the government and European Union (EU) in selecting districts to benefit from the Shs665 billion project in eastern and northern Uganda.
Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda last Friday launched the five-year project titled; ‘Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU)’, which is aimed at reducing poverty, under-nutrition and to propel inclusive socio-economic development in northern Uganda.
According to Ms Christine Guwatudde Kintu, the permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), DINU is an affirmative action programme that will be implemented in Amudat, Moroto, Abim, Pader, Agago, Omoro, Lamwo, Amuria, Otuke, Albetong, Oyam, Kole, Adjumani, Moyo, Yumbe and Zombo districts.

Criteria questioned
However, leaders in Nakapiripirit, Napak, Kotido and Kaabong districts are disgruntled that they were left out of the project.
Mr Joseph Lomonyang, the Napak District chairperson, and Mr Mark Abuku, the Kaabong District chairperson, said Karamoja needs a project to benefit all the districts in the region so they can be at par with other regions in the country in terms of development.
“If the project is all about bridging the gap in the provision of services such as access to markets, malnutrition, access to credit, poor road network and youth unemployment, then the entire Karamoja qualifies to benefit from the project. Why exclude other districts in the region?” Mr Abuku said.
Mr Samson Lokeris, the Dodoth East MP and also chairperson of Karamoja Parliamentary Group, castigated the government for excluding other districts.

Threat
Mr Lokeris threatened to mobilise other MPs from the sub-region to march up to the European embassy and the Prime Minister’s office to express their dissatisfaction.
However, Mr Francis Okori, the commissioner in-charge of Karamoja Affairs in OPM, said the other districts not listed will also benefit since some of the projects will be implemented across geographical boundaries.

“Like Amudat is bordering Kenya; it is the same with West Nile, which borders Sudan, so if other districts have not been mentioned, it does not mean that they are not in the programme,” Mr Okori said.
Mr Emmanuel Gyezaho, the EU communication officer, said the project will cover 33 districts in northern Uganda and Karamoja.
“I want to assure the leaders of Karamoja that EU has not forgotten them and Karamoja needs serious formative action,” he said.

About the project

According to Ms Christine Guwatudde Kintu, the OPM permanent secretary, DINU, a substitution for Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP), will be implemented in three broad areas of transport infrastructure which will include rehabilitation of Atiak-South Sudan border road; food security to involve access to improved crops and animal breeds; and good governance that will focus on strengthening local governments in financial management.

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