With funding from USAID, NaSARRI has introduced six new varieties of sorghum, millet and green grams, their yields have impressed residents in Napak District. This, according to experts, will reduce hunger crisis in the region that is heavily dependent on food aid from World Food Programme.
Karamoja Affairs Minister, Eng. John Byabagambi says he has been instructed by the government to conduct an audit to ascertain whether the food given by the World Food Programme-WFP and the Office of the Prime Minister reaches its intended beneficiaries.
At his visit to Namalu Mixed Primary School in Nakapiripirit district, Usami served and shared a meal with pupils at school before he danced and sang together with the children, who were all taken up in awe, at the talent exhibited by the 42-year-old performer.
It is alleged that the deceased together with several others ate porridge prepared with the Super Cereal fortified flour, which had been stocked by Lucy Lochoro, a health worker at Lokopo HC111.
Loyeng Longoli, another elder aged about 80 years is living with his two grandchildren. The elder has resorted to wild fruits and tree leaves collected by his grandchildren for survival.
Lawrence Ongwara, the District Community Development Officer of Kotido says that many girls have ended up with unwanted pregnancies and HIV as they struggle to make ends meet in different places.
In an emergency meeting convened at Lopeduru Village in Kotido Municipal Council, the chairpersons said some of the most vulnerable members of their communities are severely starving and can’t even afford one meal a day.
Helen Patricia Amutuhaire, the Programs Officer with Reach A Hand Uganda, one of the implementing partners under KARUNA, says much as hunger could be one of the issues affecting PLWH, there are other factors.
Nabuin Zonal Agricultural Research Development Institute Nabzardi has introduced new crop and animal varieties for farmers in Karamoja and Teso sub regions.
Simon Ondoga, a senior nutritionist at Moroto Regional Referral Hospital, says the Malnutrition rates could have doubled especially during the last few months of starvation in Karamoja.
The fall army worm, known to totally destroy plant leaves, stems, maize cobs and tassels, has now been confirmed in the districts of Abim, Nakapiripirit, Napak and Kotido while Moroto district is struggling with Maize Stalk Borer.
Christine Ajilong, the Chairperson of persons living with HIV in Kaabong, says more than half of the 210 people living with HIV in the district have refused to take drugs citing hunger. She notes that the families of persons living with HIV are in dire need of food.
Some of the most affected sub counties in Moroto include Rupa, Katikeikile, Tapac and Nadunget. Others in Napak are Ngoleriat, Lokopo and Lopei Sub Counties.
Another person has died of hunger in Napak district raising the number deaths to six in the last two weeks. Seventy-five year-old Lokorio Lina, a resident of Naoi village, Lopei Sub County collapsed and died after being given a mug of local sorghum brew to help sustain her life.
