Karamoja Cried, Now It Smiles
Karamoja cried in hunger. Climate change, prolonged drought, and failed crops had contributed to the famine that plagued this precious region. It was hard to imagine a life where you and your family were reduced to eating leaves to stay alive.
The heart of God was to feed His sheep. This mandate was very clear. The Robert Kayanja Bucket Initiative never rested until the families in the Karamoja region were fed. We worked together to prevent malnutrition and cure the hunger that threatened the 1.2 million people living in this area.
In order to complete our two-phase project, Karamoja Cry, we needed your prayers and financial support. Feeding over a million people a day was not an easy task. Our first phase of the project began in late July. We delivered 60 tons of a special protein nutrient-rich blend consisting of a mixture of flours, milk, soy and calcium powders, natural sugars, and vitamins. Mixed and warmed, a serving of this blend was filling the hungry stomachs of over 6,000 children and adults daily.
Sending food to this region only alleviated this problem for the short term and we had to redeem the time. People were dying daily. As we continued to feed more and more families, this was costly. Raising 10,000,000,000 UGX for the Karamoja Cry project enabled us to continue our feeding project and begin the next phase to equip the people with life-saving tools.
People in this region were incredibly weak and did not have the strength to farm the land. We equipped this region with the tools to be self-sufficient. We raised the funds to purchase Karamoja 10 imported machinery tractors (plows and planters), which helped this indigenous populace till the available land. Our hope was to purchase ten new tractors and each tractor cost 182 million UGX. Farming equipment and seeds to produce sorghum, beans, and maize were also needed. These seeds were all drought-resistant and produced a plentiful harvest.
Thank you for having prayerfully considered partnering with us as we raised 10,000,000,000 UGX to feed the hungry and help them with a long-lasting plan for survival. Your gracious gift keeps Karamoja from the deadly cry of hunger!
When the drought hit Karamoja, the Karamajong were left with no choice but to survive on wild leaves.
Drought consumes the Karamoja region.
Wild leaves are laid out to dry in the sun, the only option left for the Karamajong to cook and survive. No community should ever face such desperation, and we knew we had to intervene.
His ribs protruded against his taut skin, and his energy waned with each passing day. Hope seemed distant until the Robert Kayanja Ministries arrived, bearing the nourishing gift of Elijah’s meal.
As Mark tasted the wholesome food, a transformation began to unfold within him. His strength returned, his cheeks regained their color, and his spirit lifted with newfound vitality.Through the kindness and generosity of others, Mark blossomed into a healthy and vibrant individual, embodying the resilience of the human spirit against adversity.
Tonnes and tonnes of Elijah’s Meal was produced and packaged to be sent out to the Karamjong people. A fortified meal that has shown results in acute malnutrition-recovery in a matter of days.
Families receiving 50kg bags of the Elijah’s meal. Spirits are high and faces are beaming with joy.
Children in Karamoja happily enjoying the fortified Elijah Meal. The little boy gesturing for more.
The Elijah’s meal came right on time as a mother clutches the 50kg bag. She is relieved as the little boy next to her radiates happiness,
Elijah’s Meal being prepared over the fire.
Happy smiles all around as Karamajong people receive their parcel of hope.
We knew that the distribution of the Elijah’s meal was not enough to end hunger in Karamoja. We knew that we could do more. We have given three tractors equipped with planters and hollows, and seed so that the solution is more sustainable for Karamoja, not to mention clothes, shoes, mattresses and so many other implements.
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ - Matthew 25:34-40
I am so proud of you, Uganda, and I am proud to be Ugandan in this fine hour.
We don’t stop!
Pastor Kayanja flags off the tractors to be sent to Karamoja to begin ploughing the land.
Tractors being prepared to travel 9 hours to reach Karamoja.
Clothes, shoes, mattresses arrive in Karamoja. Pastor Chris organizes them to hand out to the community.
The Karamajong gather around as they see a fun new delivery hit their area.
Karamajong ladies ecstatic as they receive some new pieces of clothes.
A man and his wife receive clothes, bedding, and a mattress alongside the Elijah’s Meal.
After distributing food, we quickly realized this was only a short-term solution to a deeply rooted, long-term challenge. Pastor Kayanja understood that more needed to be done to sustainably end hunger in the region. This led to the creation of an initiative called Plough, Plant, Produce, which uses farming and agriculture to empower the Karamajong people to eradicate hunger within their communities.
Our goals are to:
Permanently end hunger in the Karamoja region
Transform the region through a shift in mindset
Introduce large-scale mechanized agriculture to address food insecurity
Create employment opportunities for youth, men, and women
Tractors arrive to plough the land to kickstart the agriculture process in the area.
Tractor sowing seeds into the Karamajong land, planting hope for a harvest that will feed generations.
The Karamajong women become involved in the planting process. Their faces are filled with excitement as a new future unfolds for the community. As the Karamajong work they receive a wage to further empower them and their futures.
The seeds have sprouted and are beginning to grow in a once drought stricken land.
State-of-the-art irrigation systems were introduced to ensure precise water delivery to crops, helping farmers overcome the challenges posed by unpredictable weather patterns and inconsistent seasonal rainfall.
The Karamajong involved in weeding the acres of land.
Crops growing beautifully on the Karamajong land are a testament to the power of local farming and community resilience.
Fields and fields of sorghum growing in Karamoja.
Combine harvesters were introduced to efficiently harvest all the wheat, sorghum, and beans that have been planted in Karamoja.
