seed distribution in nakapiripirit district - karamoja region uganda

sunrise in moroto - karamoja region uganda

karamajong children receive schooling - moroto, uganda

a departure here on philsgood photo a day. below is a series of images from my recent trip to the karamoja region of uganda. the karamajong are nomadic pastoralists, meaning they keep cattle and are constantly on the move looking for food and water for their livestock. raiding cattle has always been a way of life for the karamajong, a practice that turned increasingly deadly with the introduction of firearms. a guns for development program has netted some 30,000 weapons, certainly helping peace in the region.

cattle are now kept in protected kraals, large pens fenced with thorns situated next to ugandan army detaches. the army protects the cattle from raiders overnight and at 9am each morning they allow the herders, mostly children, in to milk their livestock and move out to graze.

a peacebuilding program called ABEK (alternative basic education for karamoja) provides education for the children at the kraals. children begin arriving well before sun-up, receive an hour of instruction and then are allowed into the krall to take care of their cows. the soldiers are trained in peacebuilding to promote positive relationships between the army and the children.

cattle in the kraal

children arriving for ABEK

a soldier hands out chalk to the children for lessons









a UPDF soldier holding a puppy speaks with children


children sing and dance following their classes

a UPDF soldier queues up the students following their lessons


freedom! the children are finally let go to milk and tend to their cattle

a karamajong boy milks his cow into a plastic pitcher

milking straight into the hand...

...and tasting the results!






moving off to find food and water for the day

driving. karamoja uganda

odin - man of action

respect this house