Delivering health care to IDPS: experiences and challenges in Katakwi District

There are two broad categories of IDPs in Katakwi district by cause; those displaced by the Karamojong rustlers and those displaced by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) incursion. Sporadic Karamajong raids started over 50 yrs ago and they are still ongoing to date. By 2001 there were an estimated 75,846 persons from 17,660 households living in 48 IDP camps, mainly in areas bordering Karamoja. Incursions by the LRA started around the 16th June 2003 and lasted till April/May 2004. Rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army invaded the district from Obalanga Sub County and within two weeks, the pillage had spread to 9 other sub counties, mainly in the Counties of Kapelebyong and Amuria. This paper gives a bird's eye view on the extent of displacement in Katakwi, the health status of the IDPs and proposals for improved service delivery.