Karamoja, located in northeastern of Uganda, is home to several Nilotic-speaking pastoralist communities collectively referred to as Karimojong. Individuals living in this inhospitable and unpredictable environment have historically dealt with risks of livestock loss and failed harvests through such strategies as mobility, storage, herd diversification, and social networks. Decades of armed cattle raiding and state-imposed disarmament have led to widespread livestock loss and increased economic diversification. HGP team member Padmini Iyer is now investigating how herders in Karamoja use their social networks to buffer risk. Iyer is examining transfers between friends to understand such notions as reciprocity and debt, explore how individuals form their exchange networks, and evaluate the significance of networks as a risk management strategy.
▸ Back to Field Work