Contributing factors to the siltation of valley dams: Case of Karamoja Region, Uganda

Pastoralism is the main livelihood of the people in the Karamoja region of north-eastern Uganda with 80% of households owning cattle which represents 20% of the total livestock population in Uganda. The region has an arid and semi-arid climate with average annual rainfall ranging between 350-1000mm per year. Water scarcity as a result of the low rainfall is a major obstacle for humans and livestock production. To remedy this challenge the Government and development partners constructed valley dams to store water for use during time of scarcity. Despite their importance, the valley dams are faced with siltation that threatens water availability and the livelihood of the people. To gain a better understanding of the factors that contributed to the siltation of the valley dams, this study looked at both human and natural factors that affect siltation in the Karamoja region. It was concluded that human factors were the major factor that contributed to the siltation of the valley dams.