Hunger numbers fall, but Karamoja and refugees remain at risk

What the report says

A new regional food security report from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) says Uganda’s overall acute food insecurity improved, but serious risks persist in Karamoja and among refugees. The Independent Uganda reported from Moroto that an estimated 2.1 million people in Uganda faced high levels of acute food insecurity during the period from August 2025 to February 2026, down from 3.4 million in the previous year’s assessment. The article said the improvement was linked to better seasonal production, but the gains were uneven.

Karamoja remains one of the most affected areas. The report said the number of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity there rose from about 300,000 to nearly 500,000 between April and June 2026, with all nine districts classified in Crisis phase. It cited prolonged dry spells, below-average rainfall and poor crop production as major drivers, along with long-standing challenges such as poverty, cattle raiding and limited access to grazing land and other livelihoods.

The report also flagged refugees as a major concern. Uganda’s refugee population continued to grow, with new arrivals mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Sudan, adding pressure on settlements and public services. The article said food assistance for refugees has become less adequate, with most receiving only part of their minimum caloric needs since July 2023.

The broader IGAD report noted that food insecurity remains tied not only to harvests but also to conflict, drought, prices, nutrition, health and sanitation. It called for more resilient food systems and anticipatory responses rather than crisis management alone.