KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) has today flagged off a consignment of 2500kgs of maize flour and 2500kgs of beans to the starving people of Karamoja following a recent famine outbreak in the sub-region.
The development follows an alarming voice raised by the Karamoja sub-region MPs over surging cases of deaths of their constituents alluded to the hunger which came as a result of bad weather that has failed agriculture creating a food crisis.
The campaign to provide assistance to Ugandans in the Karamoja region was today launched at the NUP headquarters in Kamwokya, Kampala at a function presided over by the NUP President, Mr. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine who signed off the first consignment.
“We have kick-started efforts to extend food relief to the people of Karamoja who are starving to death. We all know that millions of Ugandans are right now starving to death, although Karamoja is the worst hit so far. Gen. Museveni’s regime is only concerned about its survival and enrichment and not the welfare of the people,” Bobi Wine said.
“In a few weeks’ time, there will be reports that even the little money they are allocating to this relief has been stolen or diverted. That is why I want to encourage the people of Uganda to support these efforts in every small or big way to extend support to our people there. Let’s each do the little we can to save lives,” he added.
Faith Nakut, the Napak District Woman MP said although there have been responses by the Office of the Prime Minister to give food, more needs to be done.
“Unfortunately the quantity supplied was not reasonable to feed a family for a week. Each family got a kilogram of beans and about three of posho. As we speak, there are thousands of people at risk. It is shameful for an agriculture-rich country to have people dying because of a lack of food,” Nakut said.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja revealed that the government provided Shs135 billion for food in Karamoja for three months.
“I want to assure you colleagues that over 200 metric tons of food has gone to Karamoja and we want to see how to secure Karamoja because as it stands now, Karamoja is still insecure,” she said.
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