Karamoja Leaders Embark on Learning Visit to Nwoya District
In a bid to enhance governance and development in Karamoja, selected District councilors drawn from Moroto, Kotido, and Kaabong have embarked on a three-day learning visit to Nwoya District in Northern Uganda.
The visit, facilitated by Riamiriam Civil Society Network-Karamoja under the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)/Korea International Cooperation Agency(KOICA) Building Resilience in Conflict Affected and Fragile communities of Karamoja (BRICK) project, aims to foster knowledge sharing and best practices among local leaders.
“We believe that learning from others’ experiences is crucial for our growth and development,” said Dorcus Angom, Program Manager, Riamiriam Civil Society Network-Karamoja. “This visit will enable our councilors to gain valuable insights into effective governance and community development.”
The councilors will interact with their counterparts in Nwoya District, sharing experiences and challenges in areas such as infrastructure development, healthcare, and education.
“We are eager to learn from Nwoya’s successes and challenges,” noted Joseph Otita, LC3, Rupa sub county, Moroto District. “This visit will help us identify areas for improvement and replicate best practices in our own districts.”
Kotido District Speaker, Emmanuel Lodio, added, “We are grateful for this opportunity to network and build relationships with our colleagues from Nwoya. Collaboration is key to driving development in our regions.”
Kaabong District (Female) Councillor,Hon. Maria Adole emphasized, “Our focus is on improving the lives of our constituents. This learning visit will equip us with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions and drive positive change.”
During the visit, the councilors conducted a field visit to Bukona Agro Processors Limited and some modern farms in Nwoya District, engaging with community members and observing local development projects firsthand.
“This exchange program is vital for promoting peer-to-peer learning and south-south cooperation,” said Richard Omoding, the Executive Director Riamiriam Civil Society Network-Karamoja. “We are committed to supporting local governments in Karamoja to achieve sustainable development.”
Speaking during the learning visit at the council Chambers, the vice Chairman, Nwoya, LCV,Hon Moses Ojok said the district has adopted massive commercial farming and now contributes to Uganda’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) than any other district.
The Chief Administrative officer Nwoya,Nantume Jennifer Egunyu highlighted some of the challenges faced by the community including wildlife -human conflict, wildlife killing or injuring people and destroying crops as well as poaching among others.
The RDC Nwoya, Christopher Omara pointed out that the district now hosts over 70 mechanized farmers which enables it to produce all year round. He asked leaders from Karamoja to take advantage of the newly formed West Nile -Acholi-Lango-Karamoja (WALK) initiative which is aimed at mobilizing farmers to grow more crops to tap into the massive South Sudan agricultural market.
The learning visit is part of Riamiriam`s partnership with GARD, VEDCO, Warrior Squad Foundation, and Better World funded by UNDP and KOICA under the six months Building Resilience in Conflict Affected and Fragile communities of Karamoja (BRICK) project.
