The Prime Minister of Uganda, Rt Hon Robinah Nabbanja, has launched an emergency food relief intervention for the Karamoja sub-region following a prolonged dry spell that has disrupted agricultural production, depleted household food stocks and heightened the risk of food insecurity.
The intervention will see the Government distribute 9,419,610 kilogrammes of relief food, comprising maize flour and dry beans, to 313,987 households across 480 parishes in the nine districts of the Karamoja sub-region and neighbouring areas.
Nabbanja officially flagged off the relief food distribution at the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) headquarters in Bugoloobi, Kampala on Monday, where she called on leaders at all levels to ensure that the supplies reach the most vulnerable households.
She reminded Resident District Commissioners, Local Council V chairpersons, Chief Administrative Officers, district and parish councillors, production officers, extension workers and other leaders of their responsibility to supervise the distribution process.
“Every leader at every level must ensure that the food is distributed to the people who need it most. We do not want to lose lives,” Nabbanja said.
Each beneficiary household will receive one package containing 20 kilogrammes of posho and 10 kilogrammes of beans, bringing the total allocation to 30 kilogrammes per household.
The Prime Minister further warned against the diversion, sale or misuse of the relief supplies, stressing that the food is strictly intended for human consumption.
“There will be no tolerance for diversion or misuse of relief supplies. Anyone found culpable will be dealt with according to the law,” she warned.
The Office of the Prime Minister is coordinating the distribution in partnership with the National Enterprise Corporation, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, the Uganda Prisons Service, the Uganda Police Force and local governments to ensure efficient and transparent delivery of the relief food.
Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Hon Sam Engola, said the Government would closely monitor the exercise to ensure that the food reaches the intended beneficiaries.
The Government has also appealed to political, religious and community leaders, civil society organisations and development partners to support the intervention by promoting transparency, accountability and peaceful distribution.
The Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Alex Kakooza, said the Government remains committed to both immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term measures aimed at strengthening resilience to recurrent dry spells.
“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,” Kakooza said.
The emergency food relief intervention is being implemented as part of broader efforts to protect lives and livelihoods in the region, guided by the recently approved Karamoja Regional Development Plan.
