This article provides background on the Government of Uganda's disarmament campaign in Karamoja. We discuss the recent history of and motivations for the disarmament campaign, and the experiences and perceptions of local communities as they adjust to a changing security and livelihoods environment. We focus on the emergence of protected kraals as an indicator of the impacts of disarmament on local lives and livelihoods, even while recognizing that the protected kraals are themselves in transition due to shifts in military priorities and practice. We look both at intended effects and unintended externalities caused by the disarmament campaign, including increased sedentarization and associated shifts away from pastoral production, shifts in gendered divisions of labour and responsibility within households, and the substantial influx of humanitarian assistance into the region. Lastly, we consider the alignment of donor and government priorities and policies over the next five years, and the likely impacts for development and security.