MOROTO, UGANDA: The Police in Moroto on Wednesday evening seized 16 bags of posho and beans suspected to have been stolen from distribution centers in Moroto municipality.
The food is part of the consignment sent to curb the ongoing hunger that has left an estimated 800 people dead in the last seven months across Karamoja with the worst hit being Kotido district in the sub-region. Other districts include Moroto, Napak, Kaabong, Nabilatuk, Amudat, Karenga and Abim districts.
The suspected relief food was found allegedly in the home of Sophia Nakoroi a resident of the upper Camp Swahili village parked in a room not fit to live in a room built out of mud and wattle with a dented floor, South Division in Moroto municipality.
Ass. Insp. Police Mike Longole said suspicious members of the public tipped off police officers that they had seen unidentified people deliver the suspected relief food at the premises along Adyebo road.
So far, Karamoja is plagued by hunger, insecurity, malnutrition, malaria, and elusive rains that have left most families in a vulnerable state.
Longole added that police officers rushed to the scene where they found food packed in the semi-permanent room.
He said the police have embarked on investigations to establish the actual particulars of the people involved in the matter.
The food is worth Shs. 7 million was conveyed to the Moroto central police station.
Speaking at the peace forum for Moroto and Napak women last week held at the office of the Prime minister’s office in Moroto, the Karamoja affairs minister Mary Goretti Kitutu cautioned leaders against the theft of food.
She said the food that will be distributed in the next three months should benefit the most vulnerable people.
“Guard your food jealousy,” Kitutu noted, adding that the food should help people move out of starvation.
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NewVision
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