Several families in Moroto district are on the verge of starvation due crop failure that resulted from the prolonged drought which destroyed over 10000 acres of land.
A significant number of people from villages like Naput in Rupa Sub-County, Kidepo, and Atedeoi in Lotisan Sub-County are migrating to urban areas and mining sites to work as casual laborers to make a living.
An estimated 10,000 acres of various crops such as maize, sorghum, bean, sunflower and groundnuts has been ruined by the drought that started in mid June and July.
Sarah Akello, a farmer in Tapac Sub County told URN that they cultivated very many acres of maize with hopes to get much harvest, unfortunately their dreams have been shattered by the drought that has destroyed the crops.
Mariko Loduk, one of the pastoralists, told URN that they need the government to come to their rescue to repair the spoiled pipes so that their livestock can survive.
Initially, it was a role of women and children to carry out farm activities while the men were either in the kraals looking after livestock or resting under the trees as they waited for meals.
But with the current insecurity that resulted in the loss of animals, the men have resolved to join their women in the gardens to produce food for sustaining the family.
The 1.5 square kilometre valley dam is being constructed through the Ministry of Agriculture as part of the strategic plan to address water challenges and improve the food value chain and commercial agriculture in Teso and Karamoja. The facility is expected to provide water for livestock and crop resources in the area.
David Koryang, the Moroto LC V chairperson, says that most of the pipes and valves have been spoiled by cattle and the district does not have money for repairs.
The seeds that include Cowpeas, Green gram, and Tapary beans are being kept in the district stores pending distribution to the farmers after the germination tests.
According to Modan, the suspects were found at around 7:00 am with sorghum and he disguised himself as a buyer, which led to the arrest of ten suspects. Lomilo said that five more suspects took off after discovering that things were turning tough and not business as they thought.
Lokeris Nakwang, a resident of Atedeoi village in Lotisan sub-county, says that hunger has forced them to start boiling hides for food. She says that they have eaten all sorts of wild green vegetables and the only edible items they are left with in the house are skins and hides.
URN reported last month that vendors had rejected the stalls in the newly constructed market because they were too small to accommodate the vendors and their merchandise. The stalls did not also have a storage facility.
According to some farmers, most of them are waiting for rainfall to resume after ceasing in mid-may. Farmers are hoping to return to their farms despite having gone halfway into the season. They are yearning to grow crops like sorghum, maize and beans among others.
Moroto District LC V Chairperson, Andrew Napaja, says that he has requested for a meeting with Gen. Guti to discuss how the operation should be successfully implemented without causing more harm.
The last invasion comes at a time when crops are still on farms raising fears of massive destruction by the locusts. Uganda Peoples Defence Forces -UPDF teams are already on the ground, using aerial spray to kill the insects.
According to veterinary department in the three districts, the ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries delivered 10, 000 vaccines to each district.
The vaccination comes in the wake of an outbreak of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia among cattle and goat plague that killed livestock in the district.
Dr. Francis Inangolet Olaki, the Moroto District Production Officer told URN that the swarm is the biggest to have entered the country since the first invasion on January 16th, 2020. He said the district is trucking the movement of the locusts to identity the areas where they have settled.
Dr. Henry Mulondo, the Kotido District Veterinary Officer, says he has received assurance from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that the district will receive 20,000 vaccines by mid-March.
The plane was delivered by the Desert Locust Control Organization (DLCO) of East Africa and received by the Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Musa Ecweru at Moroto Airstrip this morning. Uganda paid USD 3 million (11 billion Shillings) to the Desert Locust Control Organization for the plane.
