The government has allocated Shs50 billion to provide emergency food relief to communities affected by prolonged dry conditions in Karamoja and neighbouring districts.
ICT and National Guidance Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba announced the intervention during a media briefing at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
Lumumba said Cabinet approved the extension of nationwide food-security measures during its meeting on Monday, July 13, in response to the prolonged dry spell and worsening food shortages in some parts of the country.
Several regions have continued to experience below-normal rainfall, affecting crop production, livestock farming and access to water and pasture.
Lumumba said developing El Niño conditions over the equatorial, central and eastern Pacific Ocean were expected to contribute to above-average temperatures during July 2026.
She warned that the conditions could affect agriculture and food security while increasing competition over resources such as water and pasture. They could also force affected communities to migrate in search of better conditions.
Lumumba said Karamoja and neighbouring districts were among the areas most affected by recurring erratic weather patterns.
“The most affected areas are Karamoja and neighbouring districts. The government has organised food relief items for distribution by the Office of the Prime Minister together with the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces,” she said.
The Office of the Prime Minister and the UPDF will coordinate the distribution of relief food to affected communities.
According to Lumumba, Uganda continues to face the combined effects of climate change, prolonged dry spells and regional conflicts that have disrupted food supply chains and contributed to rising food prices.
Although Uganda remains food secure at the national level, some regions continue to experience serious food shortages, requiring targeted government intervention.
The Shs50 billion allocation will finance the procurement and distribution of food supplies and support humanitarian operations in the most affected areas.
Karamoja has remained vulnerable to food insecurity because of unpredictable rainfall, crop failures, livestock losses and widespread poverty.
Humanitarian organisations have previously warned that repeated climate shocks are increasing the frequency and severity of hunger in the sub-region.
Lumumba said the extended food-security measures would provide immediate assistance while helping vulnerable households strengthen their ability to cope with future climate-related shocks.
