The Northeastern plains of Uganda are home to the stranded nomads of Karamoja. Semi-pastoralist herders, whose wealth, livelihoods and status are determined by the cattle they own, they were forced to adopt clothing under Idi Amin, who outlawed nudity in the country. Since then, the Karamojong have developed a style of dress characterised by the â??Sukaâ??, a colourful drape, and an eccentric collection of hats and jewellery, which result in striking images of a proud and distinctive people.
With a formidable reputation as fierce warriors, the Karamojong are caught in a cycle of armed cattle raids between neighbouring tribes, often trading their livestock for guns and, despite a campaign of forced disarmament by the Ugandan government, they live under the constant threat of violence.
Shunned by the rest of the country and confined to the barren backlands, the Karamojongâ??s struggle for survival has recently encountered a new adversary: the region they inhabit is undergoing cataclysmic changes. Persistent droughts are destroying crops, causing severe food shortages, and causing outbreaks of disease in the cattle so essential to the Karamoja way of life.
These portraits are a testament both to the challenges the Karamojong face, and to their incredible resilience.
