Gov’t prepares emergency response to looming famine, water crisis in Greater North

KAMPALA, July 13, 2026 – Government is preparing emergency interventions to address a looming famine in parts of the Greater North and water shortages affecting cattle corridors across the country, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has said.

Nabbanja disclosed the measures during Prime Minister’s Question Time in Parliament on Thursday. The sitting was chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa.

She said government had prepared a Cabinet paper on the situation and would expand its assessment after receiving reports that the crisis was spreading to more areas.

Agago County Member of Parliament [MP] Edward Makmot warned that communities in the Greater North were facing a severe hunger crisis, with some people already starving.

Nabbanja said Karamoja had experienced prolonged drought, with some areas receiving no rainfall since April.

She added that government was working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and local governments on interventions, including promoting quick-maturing crop varieties to boost food production.

Meanwhile, the Older Persons Representative, James Kakooza, raised concerns over the impact of climate change on cattle corridors, warning that water shortages were threatening livestock and dairy production.

In response, Nabbanja said she had convened a meeting involving the ministries responsible for Water, Agriculture, and Local Government to coordinate an emergency response.

She said government would deploy the available water bowsers to support water-stressed communities and pastoralists during the dry season.

“The few water bowsers in the country will be provided so that the communities can survive during this period,” Nabbanja said.

Meanwhile, Nabbanja said government would verify and process compensation for the families of Ugandan soldiers who died while serving in Somalia.

She was responding to concerns raised by Kilak South County MP Gilbert Olanya over unpaid arrears and delayed compensation for Ugandan troops serving under the African Union mission in Somalia.

Olanya said many Ugandan soldiers had served diligently in Somalia, but some returned home without receiving their full payments, while others were killed in the line of duty.

“We have our sons and daughters who work diligently in Somalia. Others are brought back. Unfortunately, others were killed. I would like to know the Government’s plan in paying the arrears of those who have not been paid from Somalia up to now,” Olanya said.

Nabbanja said government had engaged the African Union [AU] and international partners to resolve delays in payments to Ugandan troops serving in Somalia.

“In February this year, I was delegated by the President [Yoweri Museveni] to go to Ethiopia to meet the African Union because, as you are aware, our soldiers had gone for a long period without being paid,” she said.

She said the intervention had yielded positive results, with the AU and its partners supporting Uganda to clear the outstanding payments owed to the soldiers.

“I am happy to report that the African Union and our partners have since supported the Government of Uganda to pay our people,” Nabbanja said.

The Prime Minister, however, asked Parliament to provide details of soldiers who died while serving in Somalia to enable government to process compensation for their families.

“I would like to get the names of those people who were affected, especially those who died while on duty, so that the process of compensation can be done properly,” she said.

https://thecooperator.news/millions-face-acute-hunger-in-16-crisis-areas-fao-wfp-report-warns/

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