The Karamojong are believed to have come from Abyssinia in the Ethiopian highlands. When they reached Sudan present day South-Sudan, some Nilo-Hamites settled there and are known today as nginyangatom. The rest continued with their journey south-wards, it is believed that along the way, some people became tired and settled in present day Karamoja hence the name Karamoja meaning "the old ones have become tired.Some groups continued on their way to the south and settled in present day Teso sub-region. The Ateso and Karamojong today speak similar languages.

Karamoja was colonised by the british from 1916 to 1962. The famine that claimed alot of lives in karamoja happened in 1980. Around 21% of the population starved to death, 60% of those who died were infants. Many animals too died. In narrations, the survivors say "People could no longer eat meat first,they would first take hot meat soup or porridge before eating meat". The animal meat had become toxic for consumption.

In 2011, Karamoja became an important site for paleontologists when the remains of ugandapithecus major, a 20 million year old ancestor of present day primates were discovered. "It is a highly important fossil and it will certainly put uganda on the map interms of the scientific world" , said Martin pickford, one of the researchers involved in the discovery.

Karamojong History.

Karamojong migrations.