By Caroline Nakire
The Government of Uganda, in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF, has intensified efforts to address food insecurity in the Karamoja Sub-region by expanding emergency food assistance and strengthening school feeding programmes to protect vulnerable households and keep children in school.
As the government distributes relief food to affected communities across the region, WFP and UNICEF have committed to supporting school feeding initiatives to ensure learners continue receiving nutritious meals despite ongoing food shortages caused by prolonged dry conditions and poor harvests in parts of Karamoja.
The Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Hon. Sam Engola, announced the renewed partnership while leading a government delegation to assess the food situation and engage district leaders in Kotido, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk and Napak.
He said the emergency intervention is intended to save lives while laying the foundation for long-term food security and sustainable livelihoods.
“Our priority is to ensure that no family goes hungry while we put in place lasting solutions that will enable the people of Karamoja to produce enough food for themselves,” Hon. Engola said.
The minister emphasised that government is committed to reducing dependence on food aid by investing in agricultural production, climate-resilient farming, irrigation and community-based food security initiatives. He noted that strengthening local food production remains the most sustainable solution to the region’s recurring food shortages.
To improve Uganda’s preparedness for future emergencies, Hon. Engola revealed plans to establish grain silos in different parts of the country to strengthen national food reserves and enable a faster response to food shortages caused by drought, floods and other disasters.
He assured residents that relief food would reach vulnerable households across all nine districts of Karamoja—Kabong, Karenga, Moroto, Napak, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Amudat, Abim and Kotido—through a transparent distribution process coordinated with local leaders.
The intervention follows the Government of Uganda’s release of Shs45 billion to finance emergency food assistance across the Karamoja Sub-region. The relief operation was officially flagged off earlier this week by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, marking the start of a large-scale humanitarian response aimed at easing hunger among vulnerable households.
The World Food Programme welcomed the government’s intervention and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting vulnerable communities throughout the response.
WFP Country Director and Representative to Uganda, Wanja Kaaria, said women and children often bear the greatest burden during humanitarian emergencies and therefore require targeted support.
“Working together with the Government of Uganda and our partners enables us to reach the most vulnerable households while ensuring that children continue learning through reliable school feeding programmes,” she said.
Working alongside UNICEF, WFP will support school feeding programmes to improve children’s nutrition, promote school attendance and reduce the risk of learners dropping out during periods of food insecurity.
The Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Hon. John Baptist Lokii, said government had also strengthened social protection by increasing the monthly Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) payments for elderly beneficiaries in Karamoja from Shs25,000 to Shs75,000.
He noted that the enhanced support would help older persons meet their basic needs while broader recovery interventions take effect.
Meanwhile, the State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Hon. Esther Anyakun, urged parents and guardians to keep their children in school, noting that learning institutions supported by government and development partners continue to provide meals to learners.
She said school feeding not only improves children’s nutrition but also encourages regular attendance and supports better learning outcomes during periods of food insecurity.
District leaders from Kotido, Nakapiripirit and Nabilatuk pledged to work closely with government agencies to ensure relief food reaches the intended beneficiaries efficiently, transparently and without diversion. They also committed to mobilising communities to embrace government programmes aimed at improving agricultural productivity and household resilience.
The government delegation is expected to continue monitoring food distribution and engaging local leaders in Moroto, Amudat and Abim to assess progress and address emerging challenges as the humanitarian response continues.