Local Development and Alcohol Abuse: the Case of Karamoja

Karamoja Sub-Region in Uganda is experiencing in the last few years a dramatic increase on alcohol consumption. The population is agro-pastoralist, and the area has been insecure, mainly due to cattle raids, up to some years ago. After security has been restored, a fast growing economic development has been observed on the side of transport, trade, communication, and mining of mineral resources. However, at the same time, a number of side effects have appeared, and the increase of alcoholism is the most evident and striking. This is a great concern for the local community, so that Moroto Catholic Diocese has taken the initiative to collect evidence-based data in order to measure the dimension of the problem. Results show a worsening situation about negative effects on the health and the social wellbeing of the population caused by the over consumption of alcohol. This draws a shadow on local economic development especially on activities that are not properly guided. This paper calls for interventions from different stakeholders, both Governmental and non-Governmental, for correcting the situation, with the objective to avoid future serious and deeper effects on the local society.