The World Food Programme has launched a cash assistance programme for more than 6,000 vulnerable households in Karamoja as dry conditions raise fears of worsening hunger across the region.
The Anticipatory Action Cash Programme, funded by the Embassy of Ireland, was launched last week in Kotido District. It is designed to help families buy food and other basic household needs before the dry season pushes more communities into severe food insecurity.
Across Karamoja, families are already reporting early signs of distress. Crops have dried up under prolonged sunshine, household food stocks are falling, and communities fear the situation could worsen if rains do not return soon.
The intervention marks a shift from traditional emergency response. Instead of waiting for drought to cause widespread hunger, WFP is using forecasts and early warning systems to support households before the crisis deepens.
Cash Support Targets Vulnerable Families
The programme will support more than 6,000 households across Karamoja. Beneficiaries are expected to use the money to buy food and meet essential household needs during the difficult months ahead.
Humanitarian agencies say early action can help families protect their remaining livelihoods. It can also reduce the need for more expensive emergency aid later.
For many communities in Karamoja, repeated droughts have made recovery difficult. Families often face a new dry spell before they have fully rebuilt from the previous one.
At the launch, residents described growing fears over hunger, child malnutrition, miscarriages linked to poor maternal nutrition and falling school attendance.
Some said children were struggling to study on empty stomachs as food shortages worsened in their homes.
Ireland Says Early Action Saves Lives and Resources
Ireland’s Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Mags Gaynor, said acting before disaster strikes is more effective and less costly than responding after families have exhausted their options.
“Early action saves resources. When we act before disaster strikes, we spend far less than when we wait to respond after the crisis,” Gaynor said.
She recalled her experience in Malawi during the 2001 food crisis, saying delays in responding allowed the situation to worsen.
“We anticipated that food prices would increase but did not react immediately. By the time we responded, many families had already sold their assets to buy food. Responding later became much more expensive and achieved little,” she said.
Gaynor praised WFP for embracing anticipatory action. She also reaffirmed Ireland’s commitment to supporting programmes that strengthen community resilience against climate-related shocks.
WFP Urges Proper Use of Cash Assistance
Acting WFP Country Director Marcus Prior urged beneficiaries to use the money for its intended purpose.
He said the support is meant to help households cope with the dry season while contributing to wider efforts to reduce hunger in Karamoja.
The programme comes at a time when communities in the sub-region remain highly exposed to climate shocks, food shortages and loss of livelihoods.
Kotido RDC Calls for Long-Term Solutions
Kotido Resident District Commissioner Charles Ichogor welcomed the intervention. However, he said food insecurity in Karamoja extends beyond the households selected for support.
“The families identified to benefit are not the only ones affected. Nearly everyone is vulnerable and needs support,” Ichogor said.
He described drought as Karamoja’s biggest security challenge and urged development partners to invest in long-term solutions.
Ichogor said emergency support remains important, but Karamoja also needs practical interventions such as small-scale irrigation.
According to him, the government already provides up to 75 per cent support for micro-scale irrigation systems. Communities are expected to raise the remaining 25 per cent.
“The government of Uganda offers up to 75 per cent support for micro-scale irrigation systems and expects the remaining 25 per cent to be met by the people, which they also cannot afford, thus making the problem persistent,” he said.
The cash programme is expected to help targeted families meet urgent needs as humanitarian actors monitor the dry season and its impact on food security across Karamoja.
