How CEC Aspirant Ngorok Plans To Turn Karamoja Into A Wealth Hub Through World-Class Farming, Livestock & Land Security

By Our Reporter

As Karamoja’s fields show signs of one of the most promising harvests in recent years, Dr. Johnson Ngorok is making the case that this agricultural success must be matched with strategic political leadership at the very top of the NRM.

On a recent tour through Kotido, Dr. Ngorok — a veteran development strategist and candidate for NRM National Vice Chairperson for Karamoja Region (CEC) — described the sight of flourishing sorghum, groundnuts, and sunflower crops as “a clear signal of the region’s potential when hard work meets opportunity.” Similar yields, he noted, are expected in parts of Napak and Moroto.

But for Ngorok, the harvest is not the end of the story — it is the beginning.

“Karamoja can no longer afford to harvest without a plan. We must secure our food, add value to it, and turn it into real wealth for our people,” he told locals.

He laid out a three-point strategy for the region:

1. Post-harvest handling to eliminate losses that have crippled farmers for generations.
2. Value addition through cottage, household, and community industries that keep wealth local.
3. Household food security first — sales second.

Ngorok also pointed to the Karimojong’s unique advantage: converting surplus crops into livestock, a practice that has sustained the community in tough seasons. “But without securing land for livestock, every other livelihood — education, health, even trade — will be at risk,” he warned.

As a CEC member, Ngorok says he will champion policies that:

• Protect and expand grazing lands.
• Establish sustainable value chains for crops and livestock.
• Link Karamoja’s production to national markets and export opportunities.
• Position youth and women at the center of the region’s economic transformation.

“Karamoja needs a voice in CEC that understands our strengths, our challenges, and our culture,” Ngorok said. “I am that voice — and together, we will turn these fields of promise into a future of abundance.”

With the NRM CEC elections approaching, his message is resonating with delegates and voters who see in Ngorok not just a candidate, but a leader ready to turn potential into prosperity.