Karamoja has long been known for drought, hunger, and conflict. But in the midst of these challenges, one young man is rewriting the script. At just 25, Peter Kubal is proving that resilience, skills, and opportunity can spark a different kind of story. His journey from losing cattle to becoming a climate‑smart farming champion is reshaping what is possible in this often‑misunderstood region.
In January 2025, Kubal was among the young people who attended a week‑long youth camp at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Loyoro Catholic Parish in Kaabong District. The camp dedicated much of its time to lessons, discussions, and hands‑on sessions on climate‑smart farming. It was organized by the Mill Hill Missionaries in Kotido Diocese and facilitated by Obin Bernard Eriya, the Kotido District Agricultural Officer, together with Organic Impact Ltd, a non‑profit organization.
The emphasis on climate‑smart farming was necessary. Karamoja is a semi‑arid region where crop failures, food shortages, hunger, and inter‑ethnic conflicts are common. Climate‑smart farming can enable communities to grow food despite harsh conditions.
During the training, the youth learned about drought‑resilient practices such as growing crops in zai pits, making compost, harvesting rainwater using retention ditches, timely planting, and mulching to conserve soil moisture. At the end of the camp, Kubal said, “I am full of knowledge and skills as a result of this youth camp. Let’s go out and practice what we’ve learned. Let’s show that we were at the youth camp.”
As promised, he turned learning into action. His first assignment was at Loyoro Catholic Parish, where he was contracted under the Women and Youth Empowerment Project (WYEP) to set up a climate‑smart garden and train other youths. Leading a team, he dug zai pits and water retention ditches, made compost, and planted tomatoes, pawpaws, and passion fruit. Six months later, the passion fruit vines were bearing healthy fruits, and the pawpaws stood green and vibrant — strikingly different from the dry vegetation around them. Planting in zai pits and watering only twice a week had kept them alive through harsh conditions. Ordinarily, they would need watering once or twice a day.
Back home in Locerep, Sidok Sub‑county, Kubal created his own climate‑smart garden about a fifth of an acre to earn income and inspire peers. After digging zai pits and mulching the entire garden, he borrowed Ush 40,000 from his savings group to buy vegetable seeds. Within months, he became a leading vegetable supplier in Sidok sub‑county and beyond. His Ush 40,000 investment earned him a profit of Ush 180,000, most of it from onions. With this money, he bought a goat. His family also enjoyed a steady supply of vegetables. He plans to expand his garden in 2026.
When the rainy season ended, his vegetables remained green for an extra four weeks thanks to moisture conserved in the zai pits. Though the plants eventually withered due to lack of water for irrigation, Kubal was pleased that he had extended the growing season by a full month — proof that simple, low‑cost techniques could make a difference.
“At first, when people saw me digging zai pits, they thought I was just playing around. But later, when they saw me selling vegetables and providing enough for my family, they admired my work,” he said.
When youths gathered again at Loyoro Catholic Parish in January 2026, Kubal shared his story. “I learned many things at the 2025 Youth Camp, but I decided to focus on just a few to begin with. Those skills helped me to be self‑employed,” he said. His advice was simple: “What you learn here is very important. Put it into practice. It will help you.” He added, “We do not go to school only to get jobs. With the right skills, we can create employment for ourselves.”
Peter’s educational journey had begun under painful circumstances. In 2010, his father’s entire herd — the family’s only wealth — was stolen by warriors from another Karimojong sub‑tribe while Peter was grazing the animals. In Karamoja, cattle provide food, status, and bride price, so losing them leaves families devastated. For Peter, joining school became the only way forward.
He walked 12 kilometers daily to attend a school far from his village, navigating bushes, risky wildlife, and the threat of encountering armed warriors. After primary school, he lacked fees for secondary education until a former head teacher offered to host him in Kapchorwa, 500 kms away. There, he helped with domestic work in the evenings and weekends in exchange for school fees.
Despite performing well at O’ Level, he again struggled with school fees for A’ Level. Eventually, he sought admission to Kaabong Technical School for a certificate in agriculture. Although peers discouraged him and finances were tight, Peter persevered.
His turning point came during a 2024 youth camp at Loyoro Catholic Parish, focusing on behaviour change and career guidance. This motivated him to focus on his studies. Thereafter, he did his first internship at Loyoro Parish, where he gained skills in agroforestry, apiary, poultry, piggery, and group empowerment. His second internship was at the National Semi‑Arid Resources Research Institute in Serere.
“I am amazed and inspired by the many opportunities this course offers me,” he reflected.
After completing his course, Peter volunteered with the WYEP project at Loyoro Parish, which opened the door to the climate‑smart farming training in 2025. Later, in August 2025, he attended a one‑week bamboo propagation training at Talent Agroforestry Farm in Nakaseke District. With these skills, he trained 10 youths who established two nursery beds — one at Loyoro Parish and one at Locerep out‑station. Through these nurseries, the Greening Karamoja Project aims to plant 80,000 trees in 2026. The project has now been extended for three more years and will also promote energy‑saving stoves and climate‑smart farming. Kubal has already been trained to make low‑cost energy‑saving stoves.
Kubal’s story is more than personal triumph. It is a glimpse of what becomes possible when the youth of Karamoja are empowered to lead the region toward a new, hopeful narrative — one person, one garden, one breakthrough at a time.
Fr. Mark Owor MHM
