JEEMA Demands Emergency Irrigation Measures as Drought Hits Farmers

What the report says

Uganda’s Justice Forum (JEEMA) is urging the government to respond to a worsening dry spell with emergency irrigation measures and higher spending on agriculture. According to Nile Post, the party says the prolonged heat is damaging crops, killing livestock and reducing household incomes in several parts of the country.

JEEMA says the situation is especially acute in Karamoja, cattle corridor districts and coffee-growing areas, where drought is threatening agricultural output and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. The party has asked the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to issue immediate contingency guidance to affected farmers and to back longer-term solutions rather than rely on seasonal rainfall.

Speaking for the party, spokesperson Swaib Kaggwa Nsereko argued that Uganda needs major investment in irrigation infrastructure, agricultural research, extension services and climate-resilience measures. He also said the government should increase agriculture funding and meet the Maputo Declaration target, under which African states commit to spending at least 10 percent of national budgets on agriculture.

JEEMA further said existing support schemes, including the Parish Development Model, are not a substitute for large-scale irrigation projects. The party warned that the drought could hit coffee production in particular, noting coffee’s importance to export earnings and rural livelihoods. More broadly, the appeal reflects growing concern in Uganda and across the region about recurring droughts and the strain they place on food security and farm incomes.