Prolonged Drought in Uganda Causes 16 Deaths from Hunger in Karamoja

In the northeastern region of Karamoja in Uganda, at least 16 people have died of hunger in recent weeks, as a prolonged drought has destroyed agricultural production and left thousands of families without food.

According to a statement from the Ugandan government, rainfall has been almost entirely absent since April, precisely during the period when planting is usually carried out. As a result, large areas planted with maize, sorghum, and soybeans have dried up, dimming expectations for a good harvest this year.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja described the situation as alarming and said the government will submit a request to the cabinet for approval to purchase additional quantities of food aid for the affected areas. Meanwhile, authorities have begun distributing emergency assistance to the families considered most at risk.

Experts estimate that the repeated food crises in Karamoja are linked to climate change, lack of rainfall, deforestation, overgrazing, and pests affecting agricultural crops. According to them, the solution requires investment in irrigation systems, drought-resistant crops, and improved forecasting of climate conditions.

Karamoja has also faced severe food emergencies in the past. According to a report by an official human rights institution, in 2022 more than 2,200 people lost their lives as a result of hunger and diseases linked to malnutrition.

During that period, there was also strong backlash after statements by Uganda’s former foreign minister, Henry Okello Oryem, who called the hunger victims “idiots,” claiming that the country has a favorable climate and fertile land, and that residents should therefore have been able to provide food for themselves.