Karamoja

I haven't mentioned much about the situation here in Karamoja District of Uganda. Here's an excerpt from a UN update on ReliefWeb this past week to give you a glimpse of why we're working here:

Ravaged by insecurity and cattle-rustling, the region has lagged behind in terms of development and social services for decades, and with the proliferation of illegal firearms in the last two decades, the rustling has become increasingly violent.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Karamoja scores lowest on Uganda's key development and humanitarian indicators, even when compared to the northern region which has been wracked by conflict between government troops and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).
"Karamoja registers the highest maternal mortality rate (750/100,000 live births), the highest infant mortality rate (178/1,000 live births), the lowest latrine coverage (6 percent) and the highest illiteracy rate (89 percent)," said a recent OCHA report.

Click on the link below for the whole article:

IRIN Uganda: Optimism in Karamoja despite lingering security concerns