The effectiveness of the socio - economic adaptation strategies in developing climate resilience employed by pastoralists in Moroto district

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of socio-economic adaptation strategies in fostering climate resilience among pastoralist communities in Moroto District, Uganda. With the Karamoja sub-region increasingly vulnerable to climate variability, including prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall, this research aimed to explore the adaptive strategies employed by pastoralists and assess their impact on sustainable livelihoods. The study utilized a mixed methods approach, combining quantitative data from 60 household surveys with qualitative insights from key informant interviews in Nadunget, Rupa, and Tapac sub-counties.Findings revealed that while both local and external interventions, such as borehole construction, valley tanks, and rotational grazing are visible, they remain inconsistently effective due to infrastructure fragility, seasonal stress, and poor maintenance. Migration emerged as a dominant, yet reactive coping mechanism, offering short-term relief but contributing to long-term socio economic disruptions, including resource-based conflicts and displacement. Livelihood diversification through crop farming and small-scale businesses is gradually gaining traction. although institutional, financial, and cultural barriers hinder its full realization. The study further highlighted the limited involvement of pastoralists in policy formulation, with weak governance structures undermining resilience efforts. Community-level strategies such as herd splitting, seasonal grazing committees, and traditional forecasting were identified as promising but require greater institutional support, training, and integration into formal adaptation frameworks. Conclusively, the research found that while pastoralists in Moroto District are actively engaging in adaptation, their resilience remains constrained by structural limitations, policy gaps, and a lack of sustained investment. The study recommends strengthening climate-resilient infrastructure, enhancing local governance participation, promoting inclusive policy implementation, and scaling up diversified livelihoods. These actions are critical for transitioning from short-term coping to long-term climate resilience in pastoralist settings.