During the dry season, cattle-keepers such as Lobunei prepare to lead their herds across the region to reach water sources, negotiating with communities along the way. This traditional practice, essential for the survival of the Karamojong people in an already challenging environment with unpredictable rainfall, is becoming more difficult due to limited access to common land, rising insecurity, and increased government involvement. Some herders are concerned that government interference is threatening their way of life and forcing them to rely on less reliable crop farming instead. Lobunei, in Nakapiripirit district, is finding it increasingly difficult to find routes for his cattle as large farms and a wildlife reserve restrict their movement. He must also obtain written permission from an increasing number of government officials who control movement across the grasslands where his ancestors once allowed their cattle to graze freely. He pondered whether they are the Karamojong or if it is the government that fits that description. According to a 2017 report by the Ugandan government and partner agencies, 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 result in the area's rainfall being more unpredictable, unreliable, and intense. According to locals, the seasons have changed, causing the months to no longer match the natural events they were originally named after. For example, the month of "lomaruk" used to be named after white mushrooms that grew in March but now appear later. In the past, herders in the region could adjust by moving their animals and negotiating access to water and pasture using a system called etamam, or "sending a message", explained Emmanuel Tebanyang, a policy analyst at the Karamoja Development Forum (KDF). Elders would hold clan meetings to decide on migration, followed by sending scouts to find grazing areas. If a host community welcomed them, a bull would be sacrificed as a symbol of peace. Tebanyang stated that etamam is currently experiencing significant changes, with discussions now primarily conducted through local government officials who must approve migration in writing. The government has been regulating and documenting movement in Karamoja since colonial times, but in recent years pastoralists have noticed an increase in government control. Alex Lemu Longoria, a Karamojong elder and former mayor, described this shift as a new culture where government involvement is prevalent. The number of districts in Karamoja has increased from four in 2005 to nine, requiring herders to obtain authorization from a larger number of officials before crossing boundaries. Longoria mentioned that they no longer go there due to the problem. Many questions are being raised by officials about why they are relocating. Another obstacle is the increase in armed cattle-raiding since 2019, with weapons coming in from Kenya and South Sudan, causing herders to feel more fearful and authorities to become stricter. According to Karamoja police spokesperson Michael Longole, herders have freedom of movement, but traders transporting cattle face numerous restrictions imposed by authorities. Longole explained that the tightening of regulations is in response to the rise in cattle raids. One strategy to connect grassroots discussions with formal processes involves the establishment of committees focused on "peace" and "resource-sharing" consisting of community representatives, according to Denis Pius Lokiru, a program manager at international aid organization Mercy Corps. Since 2019, the organization has facilitated the signing of four agreements in Karamoja, overseen by government officials and integrated into local by-laws. Lokiru explained that these agreements outline how water and other natural resources can be shared peacefully to prevent conflicts. Additionally, the newly formed committees have increased representation of youth and women, as noted by Cecilia Dodoi, vice-chair of the Kotido Women's Peace Forum. Dodoi expressed that there has been significant progress in ensuring women's voices are heard, particularly for widows who have experienced the impact of conflicts firsthand. Tebanyang from the KDF questions the purpose of written agreements, suggesting that herders on the grasslands may not see the necessity of such documents. He believes that a thumbprint is a more reliable indicator of an agreement. President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has advocated for a shift towards sedentary farming in Karamoja, stating that modern commercial agriculture is more productive. Although the majority of Karamoja's 1.2 million residents have traditionally practiced agropastoralism, which involves both cattle-keeping and small-scale crop farming, recent research indicates a shift towards a heavier reliance on agriculture. Satellite data analyzed by researchers from the University of Maryland revealed a significant increase in cultivated land area from 2000 to 2011. A study conducted in 2018 by the Karamoja Resilience Support Unit found that nearly 60% of households no longer have enough livestock to sustain a sufficient food supply. Despite this trend, local experts caution against focusing solely on crop cultivation in the face of escalating impacts of climate change. Simon Peter Lomoe, executive director of the Dynamic Agro-Pastoralist Development Organisation, a nonprofit in Uganda, emphasized that no one wants to completely abandon livestock. If there is a lack of rain in this area, you have the option to relocate livestock in search of water, but you are unable to relocate crops.