Uganda's Karamoja region is sitting pretty. Beneath its dry, arid landscape lie large mineral deposits...Not all are wowed by the prospect of a mining boom. Karamoja, which borders South Sudan and Kenya, is home to 1.2 million people. There is confusion and disquiet among the majority indigenous population, according to an in-depth field study by Human Rights Watch...Extractive companies, particularly at the exploratory stage, typically see community engagement as a costly and unnecessary delay. That's woefully short sighted. As Oxfam's report makes clear, hostile community relations increase costs from delays and legal disputes, reduces mine access due to roadblocks and protests, damages companies' reputations and can even result in withdrawal from a project.