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Agago legislator tells Parliament of looming hunger in northern Uganda
"We have been handling the food situation in Karamoja and the neighbouring districts since April. I will inform Cabinet that the problem is wider than we had anticipated," Nabbanja said.
Responding, Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business Robinah Nabbanja acknowledged that parts of the country were experiencing severe food shortages, particularly in Karamoja.
By: John Odyek and Dedan Kimathi, Journalists @New Vision
KAMPALA - Edward Makmot Otto, a Member of Parliament (Agago County, NRM), has called on the Government to respond to reports of worsening hunger in parts of northern Uganda.
Edward Makmot Otto (Agago County, NRM) raised the matter during the Prime Minister's Question Time on Thursday, July 9. Makmot Otto told the House that communities in the Greater North were facing acute food shortages, warning that lives could be lost if urgent intervention was not undertaken.
"There is famine in the Greater North. People are starving, and there is a risk of death," he said without giving details on areas affected, estimated number of victims or cause of famine.
The Greater North comprises the Acholi, Lango, Karamoja and West Nile sub-regions.
Responding, Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business Robinah Nabbanja acknowledged that parts of the country were experiencing severe food shortages, particularly in Karamoja.
"We have been handling the food situation in Karamoja and the neighbouring districts since April. I will inform Cabinet that the problem is wider than we had anticipated," Nabbanja said.
Responding, Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business Robinah Nabbanja acknowledged that parts of the country were experiencing severe food shortages, particularly in Karamoja.
"We have been handling the food situation in Karamoja and the neighbouring districts since April. I will inform Cabinet that the problem is wider than we had anticipated," Nabbanja said.
She said Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, has plans to distribute quick-maturing crop varieties to affected communities as part of the emergency response.
"The Government is going to tackle the problem of hunger in the country. Cabinet will discuss the matter and come up with further solutions," Nabbanja said. The Prime Minister's response came after MPs sought an update on Government's interventions to address food insecurity in vulnerable regions.
While Makmot Otto described the situation as a famine, an official famine declaration follows internationally recognised criteria under the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) framework, which is used by the United Nations and humanitarian agencies.
Under the IPC, famine is declared only when an area simultaneously records extreme food shortages affecting at least 20 per cent of households, acute malnutrition in more than 30 per cent of children under five and a mortality rate of at least two people per 10,000 each day due to starvation, disease or malnutrition.
Food insecurity is commonly driven by prolonged drought, flooding, conflict, economic shocks and disruptions to agricultural production and markets, with prolonged shortages often resulting in displacement, disease outbreaks and long-term health effects, particularly among children.
"The Government is going to tackle the problem of hunger in the country. Cabinet will discuss the matter and come up with further solutions," Nabbanja said. The Prime Minister's response came after MPs sought an update on Government's interventions to address food insecurity in vulnerable regions.
While Makmot Otto described the situation as a famine, an official famine declaration follows internationally recognised criteria under the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) framework, which is used by the United Nations and humanitarian agencies.
Under the IPC, famine is declared only when an area simultaneously records extreme food shortages affecting at least 20 per cent of households, acute malnutrition in more than 30 per cent of children under five and a mortality rate of at least two people per 10,000 each day due to starvation, disease or malnutrition.
Food insecurity is commonly driven by prolonged drought, flooding, conflict, economic shocks and disruptions to agricultural production and markets, with prolonged shortages often resulting in displacement, disease outbreaks and long-term health effects, particularly among children.