Wakiso, Uganda– In a major effort to strengthen food security and resilience in Karamoja, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF), has donated 55 walking tractors to farmers in the region under the five-year SURE–Karamoja project.
The tractors were handed over at the National Agricultural Mechanization Referral Centre in Namalere, Wakiso District.
The donation forms part of the Fostering Sustainability and Resilience for Food Security in the Karamoja Region (SURE–Karamoja) initiative, aimed at improving agricultural productivity through mechanization, ecosystem restoration, agroforestry, natural regeneration, and pasture management.
Speaking during the handover, Dr. Antonio Querido, FAO’s outgoing Country Representative in Uganda, said the equipment will drive agricultural transformation in Karamoja.
“Mechanization is key to transforming agri-food systems in Africa. These tractors address barriers like high costs and limited access, and they support the entire value chain—from land preparation to harvesting and transport,” Dr. Querido stated.
He noted that the project responds to persistent food insecurity in Karamoja, largely driven by environmental degradation and climate change.
“We aim to embed ecosystem management into farming systems to improve productivity, reduce waste, and build resilience. This will expand livelihood options and reduce vulnerability to shocks,” he added.
Eng. Francis Waneloba, representing the MAAIF Permanent Secretary, emphasized government’s commitment to shifting Karamoja from pure pastoralism to agro-pastoralism.
“Pastoralism alone cannot increase production. By bringing water and pasture closer, we reduce the need for livestock migration and open more land for crop farming,” Waneloba said.
He added that access to water will enable irrigation, and mechanization will help utilize more land sustainably, boosting food production and household incomes.
The 55 tractors—each equipped with ploughs, seed planters, and trailers—will benefit over 12,000 farming households across six districts: Karenga, Moroto, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Kaabong, and Kotido.
In addition, more than 40 water boilers and irrigation kits are being provided to enhance water access and climate resilience.
Dr. Paul Ayella from MAAIF said the intervention targets both increased agricultural output and resilience to climate shocks.
“The goal is not just to increase yields, but to ensure farmers can sustain production amid changing weather patterns,” he said.
Lotee Paul Komol, LCV Chairman for Moroto District, welcomed the donation, describing it as a timely intervention.
“This support will significantly boost the region’s agri-food system. We thank FAO and MAAIF for recognizing Karamoja’s unique needs,” he said.
The SURE–Karamoja project reflects a multi-dimensional approach to improving agriculture, reducing vulnerability, and building long-term food security in one of Uganda’s most fragile regions.
Original Story…………………. Nile Post……………
