The Karamoja consider cattle to be royal property, and it is a measure of a man's value by which a man is valued according to the number of cattle he owns. They will do everything in their power to find good pasture and water for their cattle, a difficult task given that the Karamoja region of Uganda is very dry. Cattle are used to raise families, gain political supporters, achieve status and influence public affairs. The payment of cattle as a bride's pledge to the girl's relatives is an essential step in arranging a marriage. A man is only fertile, not the father of the children he will beget, unless he gives cattle as a bride's pledge to their mother.