BACKGROUND: The Lord’s Resistance Army extended its attacks from the Northern region to Teso region (north east) in mid 2003, displacing 42,220 people in Soroti district, 146,401 in Katakwi and 107,560 in Kaberamaido. Although the conflict was short lived in Teso unlike Northern Uganda, it’s estimated that over 2,500 children were abducted from Teso region alone in a period barely exceeding six months.
In Soroti district most camps are no more; people have re-settled in their original homes. However, they face a big challenge of food and re-constructing shelters as most of their homes were burnt down.
Soroti, as part of Teso region depends on crops and livestock production for its livelihood. Teso districts are categorized together with the Northern region where 66% of the people live below the poverty line. This is the highest in the country and in actual terms the percentage could be higher. From 1987 to date, the region has been characterized by cattle rustling and armed conflicts. The overall implication of these conflicts includes loss of social family values, death, assets that people used to depend on for their livelihoods, abductions, displacement, orphans, early marriages and child abuse.
The sub-region is predominantly an area of small-scale farmers who survive on growing crops and rearing of livestock ( i.e. cows, goats, pigs, sheep and chicken) which were lost during the war and by robberies carried out by the Karamojongs (a tribal people known for violently raiding their neighbours). The major crops grown are: sorghum, cassava, groundnuts and millet, among others. The prolonged stay in the camps detached people from their fields, therefore limiting the level of agricultural produce, hence lack of food and starvation.
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