Situated in north-eastern Uganda in the triangle between south Sudan and Kenya, Karamoja is a semi-arid and agro-pastoralist region of the country comprising the five districts of Abim, Kaabong, Kotido, Moroto and Nakapirpirit.

Estimated at just over 1.1 million, most of the population of Karamoja subsists through agro-pastoral or strictly pastoral livelihoods; few Karimojong have livelihoods that are not linked to the pastoral tradition. Even in fertile areas, Karamoja has only one annual cropping season, normally between April and September.

A chronically food-insecure region, Karamoja has been affected by three consecutive years of successive shocks, including a severe drought in 2006, a combination of extended dry spell, late rains and flooding in 2007 and currently another extended dry spell with late arriving rains only in parts of the region.

Unlike the rest of Uganda, the region has only one annual harvest and relies on timely rainfall to enable planting. This year, planting has been significantly delayed and, in many areas, drastically reduced. The rains are also necessary to replenish the water supply and   grazing lands for cattle in the region. The extended dryness is placing pressure on water availability in parts of the region, with reported average distance to water for livestock at four (4) kilometres.