MPs to be trained on food security and nutrition legislation
Okeyo said the orientation comes at a critical time when Uganda continues to pursue sustainable socio-economic transformation while addressing challenges related to food security, malnutrition, among others.
MPs to be trained on food security and nutrition legislation
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Researchers from Makerere and Kyambogo universities are set to train Members of Parliament on the country's food and nutrition situation, with a special session on the Karamoja sub-region.
The two-day session gets underway on Tuesday (August 11) at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.
It is organised by Uganda Parliament Alliance on Food and Nutrition Security with support from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.
This was revealed by Peter Okeyo, the chairperson of the alliance and MP of Bukooli Islands, while addressing the press on Monday at Imperial Royale Hotel.
Okeyo said the orientation comes at a critical time when Uganda continues to pursue sustainable socio-economic transformation while addressing challenges related to food security, malnutrition, among others.
He gave an example of the food security situation in Karamoja, where the latest integrated food security phase classification analysis shows that approximately 470,000 people, representing 32% of the urbanised population in the sub-region, face high levels of acute food insecurity.
Okeyo said all nine districts of Karamoja were classified under crisis or worst situation.
The classification report adds that about 132,100 children aged between six and 59 months are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition between March and February 2027.
According to Okeyo, behind the figures, there are children whose growth and development are at risk; with mothers struggling to feed their families, a situation that calls for sustained and coordinated action from both the national and local levels.
“Therefore, this orientation that we are going to conduct for members of the 12th Parliament is to help us to reflect on the lessons from Karamoja sub-region and other vulnerable parts of the country to strengthen parliamentary action to prevent food prices from escalating into humanitarian emergency,” he said.
Okoye said that through the training, there will be increased knowledge and evidence necessary for MPs to discharge their constitutional mandate in advancing food and nutritional security.
“Through this engagement, members will deepen their understanding of the current food and nutritional situation in Uganda, emerging challenges, policies and legal frameworks, and the strategic role Parliament plays in ensuring that national communities translate the food and food outcomes to citizens,” he said.
Appeal on Karamoja situation
This should be accompanied by strict guidelines on how for example food items grown in the region are shared with the host communities and the commercial farmer.
Nabukenya urged MPs to take note of the concerns in the country, saying the upcoming session will help them get accurate information to be used while lobbying but also legislating on most of the food and nutrition issues.
Damali Ssali, the country director of GAIN Uganda, said they decided to work with Parliament because they are critical in addressing food and nutritional security issues through legislation.
“The orientation will provide members an opportunity to identify how Parliament's actions can strengthen and contribute to stronger livelihoods and more productive populations," she said.
"At the end of the workshop, members’ capacity will be strengthened to scale up and facilitate foresight to advance food and nutritional security."
On how to promote food and nutritional security while empowering the communities economically, Patrick Mugisha, the commissioner in the trade ministry in charge of business development and quality assurance, said plans are underway to engage local government administrations on how to use the available resources to grow food as well as make money.
This will be done by looking out for cooperatives, farmer groups among others, he said.