Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has said dry spell and food shortage in Karamoja sub region is currently a general problem across the country due to climate change that is brought about by deforestation and encroachment on wetlands.
The remarks follow the public outcry of Members of Parliament from Karamoja about the severe hunger in the sub-region that has even resulted in some deaths.
According to the reports, starvation-related deaths have been recorded in the districts of Kotido, Napak, Moroto, and Kaabong.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja told Parliament on Wednesday that the government had directed the finance ministry to release Shs 135bn to extend food aid to the districts in danger.
Speaking to the media in Kampala, Faizo Muzeyi, the head of Media and Communications at UPC said if the issue of climate change is not handled adequately, the situation may get out of hand and Uganda would not wish to be moved in that direction.
“UPC, therefore, urges the government to effectively arrest the issue of climate change with the utmost attention by leading by example to encourage people to plant more trees as well as preserving the environment, water bodies, soils, swamps and forests which are key for sustainable agricultural productivity, “he said.
Muzeyi said given the fact that Uganda is naturally well endowed with good soils, vegetation, climate and weather and located at the heart of the equator compared to other countries, this ought to put the country in a commanding position to boost and produce enough food throughout the year with the available rainfall all the year round.
“Incredibly, all the national budgets since 1986 have never funded agriculture beyond 5% of the national budget of our country, Uganda! Yet the Maputo declaration on agriculture demands that all countries should spend at least 13% of their national budgets towards agriculture, “he claimed.
Muzeyi said that this looming hunger is very unfortunate and called for urgent intervention by the government and other humanitarian urgencies to come to the immediate rescue of the people with food items most especially in the areas of Karamoja where the situation is worse.
The food insecurity situation in the Karamoja Sub-region has reached a crisis level. Hundreds of people are reported to have died, with hundreds of thousands more in dire situations, facing starvation.
Located in the northeast of Uganda, Karamoja is one of the poorest regions in Uganda.