MPs back motion to counter drought, hunger in Northern Uganda

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda reported that Parliament unanimously supported a motion seeking urgent government action on drought and hunger in Northern Uganda. The motion was moved on Thursday, 16 July 2026, by Kilak North County MP Anthony Akol, who asked that government immediately expand humanitarian support while also funding longer-term climate resilience measures.

According to the report, Akol urged faster delivery of food relief, seedlings and planting materials to households whose crops had failed after a prolonged dry spell. The motion also calls for stronger early warning systems to help farmers and local governments respond to weather risks, and for quicker use of US$38 million under the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund IV Disaster Risk Financing Facility. The areas cited include West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Karamoja, Teso, Bukedi, Bunyoro and the Elgon sub-region.

Several MPs backed the proposal and highlighted the scale of the crisis. Tochi County MP Peter Okot said farmers had lost investments after planting before the dry spell. Omoro County MP Andrew Ojok proposed adding crop insurance to reduce repeated losses. Chekwii County MP Simon Peter Longoli said Karamoja had received little meaningful rainfall since April, cited more than 1.15 million acres of destroyed crops, and said at least 20 hunger-related deaths had been reported, while government had confirmed 16.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja told Parliament that Cabinet had considered the crisis and that President Yoweri Museveni had directed the Office of the Prime Minister to coordinate emergency food distribution with the army. She said food had been positioned in Kigumba, Kiryandongo District, and that distribution to the worst-affected Karamoja districts was expected to begin on Friday.