The Government of Uganda has officially launched an emergency food relief intervention for the Karamoja sub-region aimed at supporting thousands of vulnerable households affected by a prolonged dry spell that has severely disrupted agricultural production, depleted household food stocks, and heightened the risk of food insecurity across the region.
The intervention, which was flagged off on Monday at the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) headquarters in Bugolobi, Kampala, will see the distribution of 9,419,610 kilograms of relief food comprising maize flour and dry beans to 313,987 households spread across 480 parishes in the nine districts of Karamoja.
UPDF trucks loaded with tones of food to the karamoja sub region
The food relief programme is part of the Government’s immediate humanitarian response to cushion affected communities as efforts continue to strengthen long-term resilience against climate-related shocks in the semi-arid sub-region.
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) is coordinating the exercise 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 that the relief food reaches all intended beneficiaries in an efficient, transparent, and accountable manner.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, on behalf of government, the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to standing with the people of Karamoja during this difficult period and pledged continued support to communities affected by the prolonged drought.
“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,” Rt. Hon. Nabbanja said.
Prime minister Robinah Nabanja during the launch of the program
The Prime Minister noted that the intervention demonstrates the Government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations from the adverse effects of climate variability and ensuring that no Ugandan is left behind during times of crisis.
the prime minister further informed that food in karamoja is going to be distributed to the beneficiaries from the Paris level in well packaged bags
She commended the institutions involved in the emergency response for working together to facilitate the timely delivery of food assistance and urged all stakeholders to remain vigilant in ensuring that the exercise is conducted transparently and efficiently.
The emergency relief operation comes at a time when several parts of Karamoja continue to grapple with erratic weather patterns that have significantly affected crop production and household food availability, leaving many families in urgent need of humanitarian support.
The Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Hon. Sam Engola, called upon leaders at all levels to play an active role in safeguarding the integrity of the distribution process.
“All leaders and officials involved in this response are urged to ensure that relief food reaches the intended households. We appeal to political, religious, and community leaders, civil society organisations, and beneficiaries to support the exercise by promoting transparency, accountability, and peaceful distribution,” Hon. Engola said.
He emphasised that collaboration between government agencies, local leaders, and communities will be critical in ensuring that the relief reaches those most in need without delays or irregularities.
The Government has also reiterated that while emergency food assistance remains necessary to address the immediate needs of affected households, greater emphasis is being placed on long-term interventions that will strengthen the region’s resilience to recurrent dry spells and food insecurity.
Lt Gen James Mugira , said the updf through NEC will continue to supply well processed food at a relatively cheaper price while coordinating both humanitarian assistance and sustainable development interventions.
“The updf through NEC will continues to closely supply well packed food and monitor the food security for the lives of our people in Karamoja and neighbouring districts while coordinating both immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term resilience interventions. We are also engaging our development partners such as the prisons and the police to strengthen efforts to supply enough food guided by the office of the prime minister” Mr. Mujira said.
Lt Gen James Mugira of the National Enterprise Corporation
The recently approved Karamoja Regional Development Plan is expected to provide a strategic framework for addressing the underlying challenges affecting livelihoods in the sub-region, including climate vulnerability, food insecurity, and limited economic opportunities.
Government officials say the emergency food relief programme is one of several interventions being implemented to ensure that vulnerable households are protected as longer-term investments in agricultural productivity, livelihood diversification, and climate resilience take effect.
With nearly 314,000 households set to benefit from the programme, the Government has called upon all stakeholders to uphold transparency and accountability throughout the distribution exercise to guarantee that relief assistance reaches every intended beneficiary across the nine districts of Karamoja.
The emergency intervention underscores the Government’s continued commitment to safeguarding lives and supporting communities affected by climate-induced disasters while laying the foundation for sustainable development and resilience in the Karamoja sub-region.
