The Government of Uganda has launched an emergency food relief intervention for the Karamoja sub-region to support communities hit by a prolonged dry spell that has severely disrupted agricultural production and left thousands of households facing food insecurity.
The relief operation, flagged off on Monday in Kampala by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, will see 9,419,610 kilograms of maize flour and dry beans distributed to 313,987 households across 480 parishes in the nine districts of Karamoja.
According to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the intervention is intended to cushion vulnerable families whose food stocks have been depleted following months of below-normal rainfall and poor harvests.
The food distribution exercise is being coordinated by the OPM in partnership with the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), the Uganda Prisons Service, the Uganda Police Force and local governments to ensure efficient and transparent delivery.
Speaking during the launch at the NEC headquarters in Bugolobi, Prime Minister Nabbanja reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the people of Karamoja.
“The Government stands with the people of Karamoja and will continue to mobilise the necessary resources to support their recovery and build resilience against future shocks,” she said.
The Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Sam Engola, urged all leaders involved in the exercise to ensure that the relief reaches the intended beneficiaries without diversion.
He also appealed to political, religious and community leaders, civil society organisations and beneficiaries to promote transparency, accountability and peaceful distribution throughout the exercise.
The government said the emergency response forms part of broader efforts to address the recurring impacts of drought and climate-related shocks in Karamoja.
Permanent Secretary Alex Kakooza said the Office of the Prime Minister will continue monitoring the food security situation in Karamoja and neighbouring districts while coordinating both immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term resilience interventions.
He added that government is also working with development partners to protect lives and livelihoods under the recently approved Karamoja Regional Development Plan.