Local governments in Karamoja have elected John Paul Kodet, the district chairperson Napak as the chairperson board of directors Karamoja regional development initiative-KAREDI for the next four years, in a bid to boost the coordination between government, districts and the community.

The districts include, Karenga, Kaabong, Kotido and Abim. Others are, Napak, Moroto, Amudat, Nakapiripirit and Nabilatuk local governments.

The stakeholders also elected Susan Akello, a religious faith based representative in the initiative as the vice chairperson while the former district chairperson Kaabong Mark Abuk has been elected as the secretary general among the 15 man team that will oversee development in Karamoja.

With the initiative, stakeholders, believe, enhancing the regions’ health, education, and governance systems, and coinciding with infrastructure improvements, a strengthened social and environmental protection mechanisms, Karamoja will have the necessary conditions to drive inclusive socio-economic development.

To this, the district chairperson Moroto David Koriang urged local governments in the region to unite and push for the development agenda.

He urged the districts to rise up and develop the region saying lots of funds have been sent to Karamoja by donors and government without any tangible development.

Koriang described KAREDI as a game changer, an advocacy centre that could unite the Jie [Kotido], Dodoth [Kaabong], Bokora [Napak], Matheniko [Moroto], Pian [Nabilatuk] and Pokot [Amudat].

Tom Kyakwise, the chief of party [United States Agency for Development-USAID] said regional platforms are initiatives aimed at promoting development.

He said the agency’s local priorities and partnership activity-LPPA, which aims at developing regional initiatives will enhance local government leadership, technical and administrative abilities.

Speaking at the closure of the annual general meeting held at Leslona Hotel in Moroto town, the resident district commissioner Moroto George William Wopuwa urged the regional development initiative to address issues of cattle rustling and governance in Karamoja.

The head of the civil society in Karamoja, Richard Omoding, applauded the districts for the locally thought development agenda.

He said identifying the priorities for development from the grassroots was a considerable initiative to help the communities in the region.

The regional initiative aims at having Karamoja a peaceful, transformation and a productive region by 2040.

Formed in 2019, the inventiveness will coordinate local governments to implement the regional development strategy and bring about socio-economic transformation to the region.