Among gives Nabbanja ultimatum on famine situation in Karamoja
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among has directed the Prime Minister to expeditiously address the worsening famine situation in Karamoja sub-region.
This follows the public outcry of MPs from Karamoja about the severe hunger in the sub-region that has resulted into some deaths. Leaders in the region described the situation as an emergency.
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Speaking to the House during the plenary sitting on Tuesday, Among said the plight of the people in famine-stricken Karamoja remains a scar on the conscience of the country.
"The images of starving malnourished children and reports of famine-induced deaths has left us all enervated. Therefore, I direct the prime minister to find sustainable solutions to stem this seasonal challenge forthwith," she said.
Among acknowledged government’s budgetary interventions in terms of food relief, which she said is inadequate to solve the problem.
She called for the efforts of leaders, local population, development partners and neighbouring communities to prioritise the agenda to be replicated within the East African Community since the problem is regional.
Being a semi-arid area, Karamoja experiences two rainy seasons and an intense hot and dry season which makes it hard for people to engage in farming.
The most affected districts are Kotido where 1O7, 7OO people are estimated to be starving, Napak (81,800), Kaabong (70,600), and Moroto (61,900).
