A garden in Karamoja which has dried up because of the drought
Esther Smitheram and Jemma Gilpin - Communications Team at Children on the Edge

Written by Communications Team

October 1st, 2026

This article takes 2 min to read

Share on

Help rebuild drought-devastated vegetable gardens in Karamoja Uganda

Families in Karamoja, Uganda, are facing severe drought that has destroyed over 90% of local vegetable gardens and cut off vital income for school fees.

Children on the Edge is raising funds this November to drill community-managed boreholes, helping parents replant their crops, restore lost income, and keep children safe.

Remind me to donate

A garden in Karamoja which has dried up because of the drought

Families in Karamoja need the tools to protect and feed their children. In this remote region of Uganda, where more than seven in ten families live in extreme poverty, local initiative is the strongest line of defence.

The impact of severe drought on Karamoja’s vegetable gardens

After receiving training and starter seeds from their local Child Protection Team, Ayeba Philip and his wife, Pulukol Elizabeth, planted a small vegetable patch. In a short time, their garden was thriving with tomatoes, cabbage, spinach, and courgettes.

Philip and Elizabeth holding up packets of seeds in Karamoja

Philip and Elizabeth holding the packets of seeds they started their garden with.

The garden provided nutritious food for their family, but it also became a vital source of financial independence. By selling their extra vegetables at the local market, Philip and Elizabeth earned enough money to cover basic household needs, buy livestock, and enrol their two older children in school. Over time, they diversified crops with onions and aubergines, and Philip worked hard to save for a bicycle and a water drum to help expand his small business.

Philip and Elizabeth holding up the vegetables they have grown

Philip and Elizabeth holding some of the produce they grew in their vegetable garden.

Sadly, in a region where environmental crises strike hardest, hard-earned progress is currently fragile. During the severe droughts in 2026, the water sources Philip relied on for irrigation dried up. When the community borehole broke down, they had no more options. The nearest alternative water point was miles away from their village, requiring hours of walking across difficult terrain. Elizabeth was pregnant with twins at the time, so carrying heavy water containers over long distances was not possible.

A broken borehole in Karamoja

Stories like Philip and Elizabeth's reflect the grit of families in Karamoja and the stark challenges they currently face. Over 70% of households in the region lack access to basic daily water needs, and recent severe droughts have destroyed over 90% of the once-blooming vegetable gardens grown by local families. When crops fail, households lose their food and the income that keeps their children in school and safe from exploitation.

Despite these setbacks, local families are not giving up. Across Karamoja, growers are recycling seeds and preparing to plant again. What they need now is a reliable, permanent water supply so their hard work is not lost to the next dry spell.

people filling containers of water from a pond. The water level in the pond is low and the water is muddy.

"
We need water so much. If we can have a source built near the homestead here, we will be able to water our crops and reduce hunger. Currently, the hunger situation is too much.

Pulukol Elizabeth
"

A garden in Karamoja which has dried up because of the drought

Back Homegrown Solutions by supporting Community-Managed Boreholes

This November, you can back homegrown solutions to help families rebuild for good. Donations made to the campaign throughout this month will be doubled, directly funding the drilling and repair of community-managed boreholes placed right next to vegetable growers.

To ensure each water source is fully sustainable, all newly drilled and repaired boreholes will be maintained by trained local committees. A borehole like this in Philip's village would restore his family's livelihood, keep their crops thriving through drought seasons, and secure a reliable income to keep the children in school. 

Donate during November and make twice the impact for communities in Karamoja. By investing in homegrown solutions to help families like Philip and Elizabeth’s regrow for good.

Send me a reminder when matching begins

A person watering their garden, the garden is green and lots of plants are growing

Read more

Rachel Bentley with community members in Karamoja

University of Chichester awards Honorary Doctorate to Children on the Edge CEO Rachel Bentley OBE

We are pleased to share some great news from our home town. The University of Chichester has awarded our CEO and Co-founder, Rachel Bentley OBE, an Honorary Doctorate of Education. Since 1990, Rachel has led Children on the Edge, an international child rights organisation based right here in Chichester. This recognition reflects over three decades of work defending the rights of marginalised children and creating access to education in some of the toughest environments in the world.
seven young children standing behind a railing in Kachin State Myanmar

“We carried the toys ourselves” - How Kachin families are rebuilding Early Years Education

After a decade in displacement camps, families returning to their villages in the Kachin region are taking the lead. In their own words, children, parents and teachers share how they are carrying early learning models back home. They are rebuilding classrooms piece by piece, setting up learning centres for as few as two toddlers, and ensuring their youngest thrive as communities start fresh.
Uganda woman with Children on the Edge tabard plays counting sticks with Congolese children

Children on the Edge Impact: 2025-2026

In 2025–2026, Children on the Edge demonstrated that even in the toughest environments, investing in local people creates sustainable change. We have tested, refined, and used low-cost interventions on the margins, always sharing them openly so governments and international bodies can scale them where they are most needed.

Sign Up


Thank you!

Thanks for subscribing! Welcome to our Community. Keep an eye out for your first email from us.