Calls grow for urgent action as Karamoja hunger crisis worsens
Concerned leaders and citizens have appealed for a broader national response beyond emergency food relief, urging government, development partners, humanitarian agencies, private sector players and religious institutions to unite in addressing the root causes of hunger in the region.
A growing humanitarian crisis in Karamoja, particularly in Kotido and Kaabong districts, has sparked renewed calls for urgent intervention as communities face severe food shortages.
Concerned leaders and citizens have appealed for a broader national response beyond emergency food relief, urging government, development partners, humanitarian agencies, private sector players and religious institutions to unite in addressing the root causes of hunger in the region.
They welcomed President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s intervention and deployment of food assistance but said long-term solutions, including investment in irrigation, infrastructure, and sustainable livelihoods, are needed to prevent recurring crises.
The situation has raised frustration among some residents who argue that after decades of government support, Karamoja continues to experience hunger year after year despite its political importance.
According to food security assessments, about 32 percent of Karamoja’s population is facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels of hunger, with Kotido and Kaabong among the most affected districts.
Activists and community members have called on leaders to do more to improve roads, agricultural production, and economic opportunities in the region.
Relief efforts are also underway, with appeals encouraging Ugandans and well-wishers to contribute essential support to affected families as communities struggle to cope with the worsening food crisis.
“Karamoja is Uganda. Its pain is our pain. Its people are our people,” one appeal stated, urging collective action to ensure no family faces hunger in silence.
