Govt Rolls Out 135BN Budget For Food Relief Aid

Govt Rolls Out 135BN Budget For Food Relief Aid.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has revealed that Cabinet has approved a plan to spend Shs135Bn on the purchase of food to feed the residents of Karamoja in the next three months, following reports that over 580 people from the Karamoja sub-region have lost their lives due to starvation.

The Premier’s revelation followed a concern raised by Faith Nakut (Woman MP Napak) who said that by 8th July 2022, recorded deaths had hit 580 and the situation is being worsened by the Ministers in Charge of Karamoja Affairs who have accused the area politicians of exaggerating the food crisis in Karamoja by resorting to politicking over the matter.

Peter Mugema the Iganga Municipality legislator noted that many of the Karamojong who reside in Iganga and had gone back to protect their cattle were forced to return to Iganga due to starvation and even those camped in Iganga are facing starvation.

While addressing parliament today, Prime Minister Nabbanja said that Cabinet sitting yesterday resolved that the Ministry of Finance comes up with a budget of Shs135Bn to provide food for the people of Karamoja for at least three months.

Nabbanja also claimed that 200 metric tones of food had been left for Karamoja in order to avoid any more future deaths in the region as a result of starvation.

The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to restore peace in Karamoja to enable households to concentrate in their homes and cultivate their own food.