Climate Change Vs Girls’ Educaction in Karamoja

Karamoja region is an arid to semi-arid region approx. 28,000Sq Km inhabited by 1.2 million people. The region is highly dependent on subsistence agriculture for food security and livelihood. Most families practice pastoral farming to meet food security and livelihood needs. The region experiences two rainy seasons and an intense hot dry season from October to April, of which December and January are the driest, while the rainy season Peaks in May and July.

From the research program on climate change agriculture and food security by CGIAR and CCAFS, in conjunction with the Ministry of water and Environment Karamoja region in Uganda, found out that over a period of 35 years, Karamoja region has experienced changes in rainfall and temperature, the average temperatures are increasing and rainfall patterns changing resulting into vulnerability of the population to food security and livelihood disruption. This report high lights the impact harsh climate is impacting females making them the most vulnerable to various vices which have emerged within the community, which include begging, early marriage, borrowing, selling girls for labour and selling asset.  

Due to the patriarchal nature of the Uganda communities, gender roles are distinct. Men and Boys look after the animals while the women and Girls fend for the family meals and do all the household chores, which are mostly dependent on the availability in the environment. Many parts of Karamoja have been described as chronically short of food due to the recurrent drought and flash floods, which have greatly resulted in a declining resource base agro pastoralism.  Women and girls, who are the bread winners in the families are repeatedly facing challenges of crop failure and thus the unable to cater for their families.

Karamoja region uses firewood for cooking and is facing a crisis as trees are depleted with no replacement. Worse, several rivers and streams have dried up or are seasonal. These result into girls traveling longer distances in search for firewood and water.  They can only carry back a little water, which may only be enough to make the family meal, and not enough to take care of their personal hygiene. Hence issues of menstrual hygiene are at stake and girls may not be able to attend school during such a period.

Due to the climate challenges parents have found themselves evaluating how to cope. With these trials, unfortunately girls are married or sold off to get resources to support the family. Unfortunately for them, cattle is more valuable since it’s a symbol of wealth and status. Parents will do anything to protect the boys and the cattle.  For the last 10 years there has been an influx of Karamajong children mainly girls found begging on the streets of Kampala Adikin Kevin in her research factors associated with increasing numbers of street children in Kampala, was able to find out that the largest number of street children in Kampala city were Karamojong girls at 32% of her 90 respondents. These girls are between the ages of as little as 5 years to 18Years.

NBS documentary, entitled modern day slavery in Soroti ran a story that shows mothers haggling with potential buyers to sell off girls for any form of labour. According to the observer newspaper, the Soroti district chief administrative officer said that at Arapai market children are sold cheaper than goats.

This paper highlights the plight of the Karamojong girl child, it is already common knowledge that statistics on education in Moroto, show that only 6.4% of girls finish their primary education. According to the 2014 census there are 23,154 girls ages 6 to 12 in Moroto but only 4,786 of them (20.7%) were attending school. Despite this poor statistic in education, the lives of these girls are now at stake as the climate changes increase the poverty levels.

Conclusion

Several non-governmental organisations are trying to find alternative ways to accommodate children on the streets including resettling them in their communities or finding alternative homes where they can be trained to be productive and self-sustaining. The Kampala City council has recently passed the Children Protection Ordinance that is aimed at getting children off the streets. It criminalises giving money or anything to street children. According to the ordinance, any culprit is liable to pay a fine of Sh 40,000 or imprisonment for a period not less than six months or both.

As clearly stated by The Uganda Human Rights Commission government’s approach of “resettling and rehabilitating street children without addressing the factors that send children to the streets is an unsustainable solution in the long run” and argued that “there is an urgent need to address the causes and not just the symptoms.” In the case of the story of the Karamajong girls, Climate change is the main cause of the trafficking and there is need for solution that address climate change and can ensure survival of the girls and their families in Karamoja.

Bibliography

1. Climate change threatens girls’ rights. Girls are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – at the same time promoting their rights is crucial to tackling climate change Plan international Suomi, Elisa Hara et al.

2. Fighting for girl’s education in Northern Uganda by Pauline Faughnan VSO GPE.

The changing climate of Karamoja Region in Uganda impact and community’s adaption strategies. Research program climate change and agriculture and food security.

2019. Modern day Slavery in Soroti NBS television.by Adam Magara. February 27, 2019.

2020. Uganda country climate risk assessment report. Irish Aid, Resilience and Economic Inclusion Team, policy Unit Feb 2018.

2021. Karamojong of Uganda UNESCO Climate frontier.

The observer paper Street kids bought at Shs 20,000, June 5, 2019, Written by Joseph Bahingwirwe.

“Where do you want us to go’ Abuses against street children in Uganda. Human Rights watch