Key facts
- Uganda has initiated emergency food distribution in the Karamoja region.
- At least 19 deaths have been reported due to hunger and drought.
- The government will distribute 9,400 tonnes of relief food over two months.
- The operation is funded by a 45bn-shilling emergency allocation.
- International aid agencies, including the World Food Programme, have significantly reduced their support.
- Experts attribute the crisis to climate change, environmental degradation, and poverty.
Uganda has initiated emergency food distribution in the Karamoja region, an area grappling with severe drought and crop failure that has led to at least 19 reported deaths from hunger. The region's 1.5 million inhabitants are facing acute food shortages and rising malnutrition, with the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fews Net) classifying the situation as a crisis.
The government plans to distribute 9,400 tonnes of relief food over the next two months, funded by a 45 billion shilling emergency allocation approved by parliament. Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Sam Engola, launched the distribution, emphasizing the president's directive to prevent further hunger-related deaths.
Residents like Angelina Nakiru describe desperate measures to earn money for food, such as crushing rock for gold-bearing ore, highlighting the severity of the crisis. Health facilities are treating hundreds of children for severe malnutrition, with nearly half the population in the Kaabong and Kotido districts facing a crisis.
Experts attribute the recurring food insecurity to climate change, environmental degradation, poverty, and low agricultural productivity. This follows a devastating hunger crisis in 2022 that claimed over 2,200 lives.
The government is also committed to long-term solutions through the Karamoja regional development plan, including providing drought-resistant seeds. However, significant funding cuts from international donors like USAID and the World Food Programme have forced a reduction in aid, prompting the Ugandan government to take a leading role in distribution. The Food Rights Alliance advocates for food as a human right and calls for investment in water infrastructure and climate resilience to address the root causes of the crisis.