OPM delivers food relief to Kagadi District

May 24, 2017

Emmanuel Asaba, the Muhorro sub-county Chairman, said, the sub-county has been hit by severe food shortage due to prolonged drought, natural disaster like hailstorm as well as environmental degradation.

The office of the Prime Minister Under Disaster  Management has donated over 1000 bags of rice as food relief to people in Muhorro and Mpefu sub-counties in Kagadi District that have been hit by drought, and famine.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the sub-county authorities on Wednesday, at Kabuga Health center 111 in Muhorro sub-county , Ahumuza Medadi, the Kagadi District Secretary for Security and community services who doubles as the District Councilor for Muhorro sub-county said, a total over 1000 bags  of donated to residents that were hit by hailstorm, strong winds in march  this year  and November last year and are currently facing severe food shortage in Muhorro and Mpefu sub-counties.

‘'We registered names of people who were hit by hailstorm and strong winds that caused food shortage and eventual famine in two sub-counties of Muhorro and Mpefu and requested for relief Aid to the Prime Minster's office which has responded to our request. But we shall first consider the families of vulnerable group such as the elderly, Pwd's, Orphans, widows and people living with HIV/Aids'', he said.

He explained that the office of the prime Minister courtesy of Buyaga West county Member of Parliament  Barnabas Tinkasiimire have remembered people who were affected by the disaster. He adds that those to benefit include, those people whose crops were damaged by hail storm and strong winds that are in food shortage. He said the right procedure will be followed while distributing the rice to the genuine beneficiaries

‘'We have decided to first  stock it at health centers  in Muhorro and Mpefu sub-counties as we arrange names of the beneficiaries and the day  for distribution with the local council chairperson who know the right people. We shall  announce the day when the stocked bags of rice shall be distributed'', said Ahumuza.

Byonabye Odila, the District female Councilor for Muhorro sub-county applauded President Yoweri Museveni and the office of the prime Minister  for remembering the plight of people hit by famine resulting from natural calamity of hailstorm and drought in the area. 

He cited the most affected villages as, Kabuga, Kyankorogoto, Kasoga, Kyabasenja, Ibanda, Kambogo and Nyaburungi  in Nyamacumu Parish in Muhorro sub-county Kagadi District where crops such as Bananas, Beans, Maize, cassava, Irish and Sweet potatoes were damaged by hailstorm and strong winds.

Emmanuel Asaba, the Muhorro sub-county Chairman, said, the sub-county has been hit by severe food shortage due to prolonged drought, natural disaster like hailstorm as well as environmental degradation.

'' As much as natural disaster hit my sub-county, the issue of environmental protection has not been taken seriously ,there is much forest and wet land  destruction which people must shun in order to minimize challenges of climate change'', said Asaba

Valentine Byarugaba, the Local council chairperson Kambogo in Muhorro sub-county  who lost hectares of Banana plantation and maize said that although food relief has been donated by government, there is a tendency of  some leaders not to give it to the right beneficiaries. He asked leaders to give the food relief to the right beneficiaries.

‘' I thank National resistance Movement (NRM) under President Yoweri Museveni  and the office of the prime Minister for remembering us but leaders should not divert it and give it to the wrong people! It should benefit the intended people'', he said.

Sylivia Tumugabirwe  a resident of Kabuga in Nyamacumu parish, Kagadi District who also lost 4 acres of maize and Bananas said, food relief has come at the right time when his family is facing severe food shortage.

Josephat Bahimbise another resident in Kyankorogoto village in Muhorro sub-county said he lost acres of beans, maize and sweet potatoes in March this year and has been hit by food shortage.

‘'My school going age children, I and my wife have been buying posho and beans from market since march and indeed stranded. I want leaders in this sub-county to begin with me because  I have food shortage'', he said

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