Government has flagged off a major emergency food relief operation targeting nearly 314,000 households in the Karamoja sub-region following a prolonged dry spell that has left thousands of families at risk of food insecurity.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja on Monday flagged off the relief supplies at the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) headquarters in Bugolobi, Kampala, marking the start of the distribution exercise that will see 9,419,610 kilograms of maize flour and dry beans delivered to 313,987 households across 480 parishes in Karamoja’s nine districts.
The intervention comes after an extended drought disrupted agricultural production, depleted household food stocks, and worsened food insecurity across the region, prompting the government to step in with emergency assistance.
According to the government, the relief operation is being coordinated 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 the food reaches vulnerable households efficiently and transparently.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Prime Minister Nabbanja reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting communities affected by climate-related disasters and ensuring that no Ugandan is left behind during times of hardship.
She said the relief intervention is intended to cushion families from the immediate effects of the prolonged dry spell while broader efforts to strengthen food security and community resilience continue.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Sam Engola; the Minister of State for Karamoja, Esther Anyakun; Lt. Gen. James Mugira, the Managing Director of NEC; Members of Parliament from the Karamoja sub-region; and other government officials.
Karamoja remains one of the regions most vulnerable to recurring droughts and erratic weather patterns, with prolonged dry spells frequently affecting crop production and livestock, the main sources of livelihood for many households.
Reports indicate that during this drought, many people lost their lives due to hunger.
