President Museveni calls for Cultural Audit

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called for a Cultural audit by the Karamajong in order for them to have a strong institution.

The President said this today while officiating at the 11th edition of The Karamoja Cultural Event, convened by the Karamoja Cultural Association organized under the theme: “Unity in Culture, Strength in Peace, Prosperity Through Tourism and Natural Resources”.

President Museveni officiated at the weeklong annual Karamoja Cultural Event that started on Sunday and it will run until 12th September 2026 at Naitakwae Grounds in Moroto District.

The event brings together an estimated 15,000 participants from the Ateker cluster, including the Karamojong, Iteso, Ethur, Ik, Tepeth and Regional participants including the Turkana and Pokot from Kenya, Toposa from South Sudan, and Nyangatom from Ethiopia.

The President commended the Karamojong community for the good and moral practices that have saved and preserved their population including among others the low levels of HIV/AIDS prevalence and warned against the unacceptable vices that he recommended for discarding that include among others nomadism that threatens sustainable household income growth among others.

During the event, President Museveni  unveiled a three phased food Stabilisation strategy for Karamoja Sub region and the move follows registered climate devastating effects to agriculture and food security initiatives in that area that prompted to repeatedly respond with food relief support to affected persons with the most being the Ugx 45 billion food relief support currently under distribution to drought stricken areas.

President Museveni revealed that cabinet resolved to rollout the 3 phased strategy through availing short, medium and long term Agricultural seed varieties and animals that can support households to resist droughts and tasked the Minister for Karamoja Affairs John Baptist Looki to outline the cabinet decision on that strategy.

The President expounded on the decisive move for the disarmament exercise for Karamoja Sub region and directed for awarding of medal to Rev Fr Raphael Lobere the coordinator for Karamoja reformed warriors.

President Museveni noted that the 41,000 guns that were recovered from Karamoja Sub region and explained the extent of the threat that was imposed by armed groups in that area fueled by some security actors and some leaders.

He highlighted how armed groups risked population growth in Karamoja Sub region as deaths were rampant until he stood ground and ordered for the deployment of the UPDF to counter and disarm the Karachunas and commended the civilian population that supported the exercise including Fr Raphael Lobere, Judith Natuk and Christine Agolere.

The President warned wetland enchroachment, affirming that the government plans to construct Rope Dam in Karamoja Sub region to scale up irrigation and counter drought and noted that Karamoja and West Nile share the same latitude but the former receives only 35 inches of rainfall and the latter 60 inches which he attributes to wetland enchroachment and absence of water preservation measures. 

With several examples of thriving garden yields like that of the presidential initiative on banana development in Bushenyi district, President Museveni assured the people of Karamoja of government’s is strategic efforts in that direction.

He commended the people of Karamoja Sub region for massively voting for the NRM in the 2026 polls and explained that voting meant a contestation of ideas and the NRM merged victorious and directed the Presidential Principal Secretary to schedule a meeting with Fr Raphael Lobere and peace coordinators in Karamoja Sub region.

Earlier, the Minister for Karamoja Affairs Hon Looki John Baptist correlated a direct link and impact of the NRM government’s interventions in Karamoja Sub region to development and socioeconomic transformation.

He mentions the disarmament process that ushered ultimate peace upon which development and wealth creation in Karamoja is thriving and commented about the Ugx 45 billion food relief distribution to drought affected areas in Karamoja Sub region and asked for delay of the repayment period for PDM in that area due to effect of drought.

Father Raphael Lobere the coordinator for Karamoja reformed warriors states the Sub region’s transformation journey and current status quo since President Museveni Kaguta Museveni dedicated focus towards Karamoja.

The Chairperson of Karamoja Parliamentary Group the Dodoth West County mp Ben Baatom Koryang seeks cattle restocking strategies for households in Karamoja Sub region.

The NRM Secretary General Hon Richard Todwong rallied the people of Karamoja to translate the cultural heritage and value into wealth creation and noted that the reach Karamajong culture will best be preserved through thriving wealth creation for households.

Hon Todwong commended the electorate in Karamoja Sub region for progressively voting for the NRM party and ranked them the best region so far with over 92% in the 2026 elections.