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Thousands of Karamoja families to receive emergency food aid as drought causes crop failure

20 July, 2026
24

Thousands of families across Karamoja who have watched their crops fail after months of prolonged dry weather are set to receive emergency food relief as the government moves to avert a worsening hunger crisis in the sub-region. 


The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on Monday launched a relief operation targeting 313,987 households across the nine districts of Karamoja after the prolonged dry spell severely affected agricultural production and left many families with dwindling food supplies.

The government will distribute 9,419,610 kilograms of relief food comprising maize flour and dry beans to households in 480 parishes, with the exercise expected to begin immediately. 

Speaking while flagging off the relief supplies at NEC headquarters in Bugolobi, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja said the government remains committed to protecting communities whose livelihoods have been devastated by the drought. She warned leaders and officials involved in the exercise against diverting relief food, saying anyone found abusing the programme would face the law.

Permanent Secretary Alex Kakooza said the government will continue monitoring food security across Karamoja and neighbouring districts while implementing both emergency assistance and long-term resilience programmes. 

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