The Karamoja sub-region (i.e. Karamoja) in Northeastern Uganda occupies 27,000 square miles of land and is currently inhabited by approximately 1.4 million diverse people – most speak the Nga’karimojong language (Feinstein International Center, 2007)[1]. It is environmentally, socially, politically and economically different from the rest of Uganda. Being largely dryland, its economy is traditionally based on livestock complemented by opportunistic crop cultivation (International Working Group on Indigenous Affairs, 2019)[2]. Karamoja has 9 local governments with one referral hospital situated in Moroto district the regional administrative town.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease of humans caused by a coronavirus newly discovered in 2019 – SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic and continues to spread around the world including to Africa, where the number of cases is steadily increasing with 30,536 reported cases and 1,085 deaths as of May 4 (World Health Organization, 2020a).[1] Uganda’s first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in March 2020 after a Ugandan businessman returned from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Since then, Uganda has confirmed 114 cases, with 55 recoveries and no deaths. The number of cases continues to rise. Karamoja has not yet confirmed or reported any COVID-19 cases since the onset of the pandemic. However, due to porous borders, continued inter and intra conflicts among pastoralists COVID-19 cases could come from Kenya or South Sudan across the border if stiff border security is not enforced.   The facilities at the referral hospital in Moroto are able to carry out surveillance, containment, communication and case tracking activities related to COVID-19.