During the dry season, cattle herders like Lobunei prepare to lead their herds across the region to reach water sources, negotiating with communities along the way. This long-standing tradition, essential for the survival of the Karamojong people in a harsh environment with unpredictable rainfall patterns exacerbated by climate change, is becoming more difficult due to limited access to land, increased security concerns, and greater government involvement in resource allocation. Some herders fear that government interference is threatening their traditional way of life and forcing them to turn to less sustainable options like crop farming, which is susceptible to extreme weather events. Lobunei, in Nakapiripirit district, is finding it increasingly challenging to navigate around large farms and a wildlife reserve that used to be accessible to herders in the past. He also has to request written permission from an increasing number of government officials who oversee movement across the grasslands where his ancestors used to freely graze their cattle. He questioned whether they were the Karamojong or if it was the government. According to a 2017 report by the Ugandan government and partner organizations, Karamoja has experienced longer dry periods and more frequent heavy rainfall since 1981. The report also warned that in the future, a warming planet will cause the region's rainfall to become more unpredictable, unreliable, and intense. Local residents have noticed that the seasons have changed, causing the names of the months to no longer match up with the natural events they used to represent. For example, the month of "lomaruk" used to be associated with white mushrooms appearing in March, but now they show up months later. In the past, herders in the region were able to adjust by relocating their animals and arranging for access to water and pasture through a process called etamam, which means "sending a message". Emmanuel Tebanyang, a policy analyst at the Karamoja Development Forum (KDF), a civil society organization, explained that elders would first hold meetings to decide if they should migrate that season, and then scouts would be sent out to find suitable grazing areas. If a host community was willing to accommodate them, a bull would be sacrificed as a symbol of peace. Tebanyang stated that etamam is currently experiencing significant change, with discussions now primarily involving local government officials who must grant written permission for migration to take place. The state has long aimed to regulate movement in Karamoja, but pastoralists believe its control has become more established in recent years. Alex Lemu Longoria, a Karamojong elder and former mayor of Moroto town, mentioned that everything is now governed by the government in this new culture. The number of districts in Karamoja has increased from four to nine since 2005, leading to herders needing authorization from a wider range of officials before crossing boundaries. "They no longer go there because of that issue," Longoria mentioned. There is a significant amount of questioning from officials about why they are relocating there. A new challenge is the increase in armed cattle-raiding since 2019, with firearms coming in from Kenya and South Sudan, causing herders to be more fearful and authorities to be more strict. Karamoja police spokesperson Michael Longole stated that herders have freedom of movement, but traders transporting cattle across districts are facing numerous restrictions. Longole mentioned that authorities are intensifying measures due to the increase in cattle raids. One strategy to close the gap between informal grassroots discussions and official procedures involves forming committees focused on peace and resource-sharing, composed of community representatives, according to Denis Pius Lokiru, a program manager at Mercy Corps. Since 2019, this organization has assisted in the signing of four agreements in Karamoja, overseen by government officials and integrated into local regulations. These agreements outline how water and other natural resources can be shared peacefully, as Lokiru explained. Additionally, these new committees now include more young people and women, remarked Cecilia Dodoi, vice-chair of the Kotido Women's Peace Forum. Dodoi noted a significant improvement in having women's voices heard, especially from widows who have experienced the repercussions of conflict. Tebanyang from the KDF questions the purpose of written agreements, whether they are meant for herders or bureaucrats. He believes that herders do not need these documents as they rely on traditional methods such as thumbprints for agreements. President Museveni has pushed for sedentary farming in Karamoja, arguing that modern commercial agriculture is more productive than pastoralism. While many of Karamoja's 1.2 million residents have traditionally practiced agropastoralism by combining cattle-keeping with small-scale crop farming, recent research indicates a shift towards a heavier reliance on agriculture in the past twenty years. Satellite data analyzed by researchers at the University of Maryland revealed a significant increase in cultivated land area between 2000 and 2011. A 2018 study conducted by the Karamoja Resilience Support Unit found that nearly 60% of households no longer possess enough livestock to sustain a sufficient food supply. However, local experts caution against focusing solely on crops amidst the growing impacts of climate change. Simon Peter Lomoe, executive director of the Dynamic Agro-Pastoralist Development Organisation, emphasized that no one wants to completely abandon livestock in Karamoja. In the event of a drought in this area, it is possible to relocate livestock in search of water. However, crops cannot be moved.