Government Launches Emergency Food Relief for Karamoja

The Ugandan government has launched an emergency food relief operation in the Karamoja sub-region, a move necessitated by a severe dry spell that has crippled agricultural production and exacerbated food insecurity. Local leaders report that the hunger crisis has worsened, with the death toll from starvation climbing to 19 in the past week, intensifying pressure on the government to act swiftly.

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The Government of Uganda has today launched an emergency food relief intervention for the Karamoja sub-region to support communities affected by the prolonged dry spell that has disrupted agricultural production, depleted household food stocks, and increased the risk of food insecurity.

The Office of the Prime Minister announced on July 20, 2026, that the operation will distribute 9,419,610 kilograms of relief food, including maize flour and dry beans, to 313,987 households across nine districts. Each household is slated to receive 20 kilograms of maize flour and 10 kilograms of beans.

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The Government stands with the people of Karamoja and will continue to mobilise the necessary resources to support their recovery and build resilience against future shocks.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja officially flagged off the distribution, stating, "The Government stands with the people of Karamoja and will continue to mobilise the necessary resources to support their recovery and build resilience against future shocks." The distribution is being coordinated with several government bodies, including the National Enterprise Corporation, the Uganda People's Defence Forces, and the Uganda Police Force, alongside local governments, to ensure efficiency and transparency.

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We appeal to political, religious and community leaders, civil society organisations and beneficiaries to support the exercise by promoting transparency, accountability and peaceful distribution.

Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Sam Engola urged for calm and transparency during the exercise, appealing to leaders and beneficiaries to support the process. Permanent Secretary Alex Kakooza added that the government, in partnership with development partners, will continue monitoring the food security situation and implement both emergency aid and long-term resilience strategies, guided by the Karamoja Regional Development Plan.

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The Office of the Prime Minister will continue to closely monitor the food security situation in Karamoja and neighbouring districts while coordinating both immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term resilience interventions. We are also engaging our development partners to strengthen efforts to protect lives and livelihoods, guided by the recently approved Karamoja Regional Development Plan.