The Minister for ICT & National Guidance, Hon Justine Lumumba Kasule, has revealed that the Government has earmarked UGX 50 billion from the Contingency Fund for emergency response, including food distribution in Karamoja and neighbouring districts through the Office of the Prime Minister and the UPDF.
While addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday, Min Kasule noted that the decision comes amidst the ongoing El Niño conditions over the Equatorial, Central, and Eastern Pacific Ocean, leading to increased temperatures, which are expected to rise higher this month.
“The most affected areas are Karamoja and neighbouring districts. The government has organized food items for distribution by the Office of the Prime Minister, together with the UPDF” she said.
Ms Kasule revealed that the high temperatures are set to impact on agriculture, food security, water and environment.
“Health including heat-related illness, waterborne diseases, and poor nutrition, food insecurity, conflicts over resources like water and pasture, and migration from one place to another, reduced household incomes and food scarcity, leading to higher food prices” she said.
Ms Kasule has further urged the public to promote the efficient use of water for domestic and production purposes.
“Use of supplementary irrigation for those with access to water resources and communities are encouraged to use the available food efficiently” she said.
The emergency relief comes a week after the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Mr Alex Kakooza, confirmed that at least 16 people have passed on from causes associated with food shortages in the Karamoja sub-region, following prolonged dry conditions that have led to crop failure and food shortages.
