1979: DanChurchAid (DCA) approves one million Danish kroner to relief activities in Karamoja, Uganda, where the population – especially the nomads – are starving. Approximately 500,000 people are affected by hunger after several years of drought and ravage of Idi Amin’s soldiers.
1980: DanChurchAid is in charge of food distribution carried out by the Anglican Church in Uganda. The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and World Food Programme are also distributing food to the starving population. Danida has donated 2.4 million Danish kroner to DanChurchAid to be used for development projects within agriculture and health.
1981: A new disaster threatens due to the previous years’ drought and heavy rain destroying the roads and making it impossible for the trucks to deliver the food aid. Experts estimate that Karamoja need 500 tons of food items per week all through 1981. Parallel to the food aid a big reconstruction work is being implemented in Karamoja. These activities were later partially destroyed during Idi Amin.
1982: Reconstruction has started – road construction, vaccination of cattle, building of health clinics and distribution of seeds to women. After eight years with Idi Amin followed by ravage and plunder by this soldiers who fled through Karamoja after Amin’s fall, and then two years of drought, Karamoja need a break. Out of a population of 450,000, 75,000 starved to death. Uganda’s new government headed by Milton Obote work together with DanChurchAid’s partners, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Church of Uganda in rehabilitating Karamoja.
1983: There is progress in the region. No need for distribution of food rations; the farmers have planted and can now live on their first harvest. The Canadian Church has donated funds for a drilling rig, and DanChurchAid buys one in Denmark and takes care of the transportation. DCA general secretary Jens Jørgen Thomsen visits Karamoja and advocates understanding for and preservation of the Karamojong people’s old and proud culture.
From 1984: New cultivation methods are introduced to the farmers, and wells are drilled for drinking water in order to prevent future disasters and starvation.
From 1986: Museveni becomes President and over the following years the development progresses slowly in Karamoja, among others with introduction of more new cultivation methods in the agriculture.
From 1995: DanChurchAid’s partner, the Lutheran World Federation, extends the well drilling project and maintenance of the wells. In the following years more development projects are implemented in the region.
From 2003: During 23 years, the local organisation Karamoja Agro-pastoral Development Program (KADP) has been part of LWF’s activities with relief aid and access to drinking water. In 2003 KADP was registered as a local NGO, and the work slowly changed from relief aid to development projects. KADP continues a DanChurchAid’s close partner in Karamoja.
From 2006: DanChurchAid introduces a big disaster prevention project related to climate changes. The project includes agricultural development, development of human and animal health and development of education.
2007: In connection with the DanChurchAid Christmas present catalogue “Give-a-goat”, Karamojong women form groups for goat rearing and they learn how to grow fodder for the animals.
2009: DanChurchAid opens an office in Moroto, the main town in Karamoja, in order to support the development efforts in the region.