Karamoja

Karamoja sub-region is a region in northeastern Uganda comprising of the districts of Kotido, Moroto, Kaabong and Nakapiripirit.

The region is mostly a semi-arid plain with harsh climate and low annual rainfall. It is largely savannah, covered with seasonal grasses, thorned plants, and occasional small trees. The average elevation of the plain of Karamoja lies at around 1400 meters (4500 feet) above sea level. The large mountains; Mt. Kadam, Mt. Napak, and Mt. Moroto — lying at the periphery of Karamoja — have peaks reaching around 3000 meters (10,000 feet) and higher.

Living in Karamoja are mainly the Karimojong ethnic group, most of whom follow a semi-nomadic lifestyle. Other groups in the region include the Oropom, Pokot, Ik and the Tepeth. Life in Karamoja has remained almost unchanged for thousands of years. Western technology, medicine, dress, culture, and Christianity, found in varying degrees throughout Uganda, have been adopted much more slowly by the Karimojong.

There are at least 5 regional hospitals in Karamoja, providing affordable health services to the area. The locations include Matany, Moroto, Amudat, Kotido and Kaabong.

Significant numbers of Karamojong belong to and attend both the Catholic and Anglican Churches. Baptist and PAG churches are also coming up in the area.

In mid-2006, as first reported by [Inner City Press] and then by [The New Vision], the United Nations Development Programme halted its disarmament programs in Karamoja in response to human rights abuses in the parallel forcible disarmament programs carried out by the Uganda People's Defense Force.

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