Xmas in Karamoja renews hope to a hurting sub-region 

During the festive season, JIMMY NTALE led a team of friends, partners and well-wishers to Napak, Karamoja as part of a charity drive that touched several families. Felix Eupal tagged along and offers his two-day experience.

When Jimmy Ntale asked me to join him for a journey to Karamoja over the Christmas period, I was skeptical at first. Of recent, images mostly shared on social media about the sub-region are absurd and gruesome; if not dead Karimojong warriors, it is starving old men and women. I thought going to a place of death and despair was not a wise move.

Nonetheless, I drudgingly agreed after he persuaded me about his bold cause to donate relief items for the Karamoja communities to address their woeful plight. Through his Germany-based Ntale Hilfsorganisation International, Ntale organized this trip for months after reading about the plight of some Karimojong communities, especially when it comes to starvation.

He coordinated friends, partners and well-wishers for the trip and with a truckload of goodies and gifts, we set off for two days to Karamoja on December 19 in a group of about 12 people. Our stop was in Kokorios village in Matany sub-county, Napak district. Here, the first impressions were the harsh weather and sight of malnourished people, especially children.

It was evident Napak is badly affected by climate change. Here, people lack the basics we take for granted such as clean water, food and medicine. Amidst all this, they warmly welcomed us with open arms. Young, youth and old people came together to greet us.

“The festive season is a time to share with those who are in need. From my born-again belief, I thought I could do something to positively impact these people. We don’t have that much but the little we can give can improve someone’s livelihood or even save a life and I am happy to do something,” Ntale said as the team rolled out relief items for the community.

Among them was rice, sugar, maize flour for the various families that had been identified by the local leaders. For the children, bags of chocolate, biscuits, and sweets were in plenty.

“Our mission is to bring hope to a hurting world by fixing loopholes that have been created in communities through education, providing basic needs and development of welfare of people in society.”

To cool off from the tedious journey, a brief visit to the Bokora wildlife reserve was relieving after watching a few antelopes. Luckily, the weather temperatures dropped greatly in the night to allow the team a peaceful sleep but we were up early the following morning for the journey to nearby Namoruongora village, where Ntale and team yet again provided relief items.

For the two days we spent there, there were many sad tales but also several rays of hope for the communities. In all, more than 300 families benefitted from the relief items but it was clear more effort is needed to uplift the area, especially when it comes to food.

David Kodet, a local leader, noted that due to the poor soils in the area, it is hard to engage in meaningful farming.

“Matters are not helped by the occasional experiences of drought and flash floods, which end up destroying the little food we grow,” he said.

He further noted there is a drinking problem among men which leads to domestic violence and that many children of school-going age cannot afford to be in school and the few who can, lack the basics like pens and books.

“Some people come here to bring us alcohol but we are glad that you have brought relief items,” he noted.

To this, Ntale offered to continue supporting these families and ahead of the start of the new school term in February, he pledged to help learners with scholastic materials. Thanks to friends and well-wishers, Ntale’s efforts helped the community and families so that they do not go hungry.

“We are now seeking to support women and adolescent girls, most of whom are survivors of gender-based violence, to achieve their career dreams,” Ntale said.

At the end of it all, the biggest lesson from the trip is that it doesn’t matter what little one has for charity, it can have an impact on someone’s life.

eupal.ff@gmail.com