Eastern Uganda hit by food shortage

Several districts in eastern Uganda are grappling with drought, food shortages, livestock diseases and a looming famine. The worst hit is Bwikhonge sub-county in Bulambuli district, where 400 families are facing starvation following an extended drought, says sub-county chairman Paul Michael Kimamati. He says more than 400 homes are affected with 3,000 hectares of maize and beans have been destroyed as the area has been hit by a drought for the last five months. Kimamati added that when it rained for two days recently, farmers rushed to plant their crops convinced that the rains had started. Unfortunately, it did not rain beyond those two days. The 10 affected villages included Bumalilo, Bulumela, Bunetibo, Buweswa, Bumutsopa and Buwalusati. The others are Bunabaloya, Buwabwala, Buwakoli and Buwanyama. The Agriculture Ministry has sent experts to assess the food situation in a number of districts in eastern Uganda, according to the minister, Tress Bucyanayandi. The team will also investigate the reported livestock diseases in the region. In an earlier interview, the minister said there was enough food in the country since many areas are harvesting. "We do have food, provided the people do not sell much of it. We are harvesting," Bucyanayandi. He had been asked to comment about a report by the International Fund for Agricultural Development which saidthe prolonged drought was threatening the lives of an estimated 10 million people across the Horn of Africa sub-region, including Uganda. Local leaders say two elderly people are believed to have died from starvation in Bwikhonge sub-county. Kimamati identified the deceased as Abdulla Wannyufu (65 years), a resident of Bumusopa village, and Damascus Solombi (63) of Bumalilo village in the same sub-county. "We buried two elderly men in the last week of June. Others may die if the Government does not come to our rescue," Kimamati lamented. When contacted, the minister of Disaster Preparedness, Dr. Stephen Mallinga, said the government would despatch a team to the area to assess the extent of the food shortage. He said intervention would depend on the findings.