Lango ranks 3rd among hunger affected regions of Uganda

By Denis Okello (denis.okello@vol.co.ug)

Lira

Lango sub-region has emerged as the third most hunger affected region in Uganda.

This is contained in a report tabled before cabinet by ministry of agriculture on the hunger situation in Uganda.

The report ranks Karamoja sub region as the most affected by hunger, standing at 41%, Teso comes 2^nd at  21.4%, while Acholi, Lango and West Nile are in 3^rd position at 19.4%.

Buganda is 4^th at 17.7%, Rwenzori 5^th at 6.3% while Bunyoro, Ankole, Kigezi are in 6^th position at 4.2%.

Chris Baryomunsi the minister of information and national guidance attributed hunger being experienced in the country as well as the high commodity prices to climate change, effects of corona virus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war which has affected the prices of fertilizers.

Baryomunsi said cabinet has entered into an agreement with some large scale farmers to produce enough food to feed Ugandans.

He said the Uganda prisons service, UPDF, veterans, NARO among other institutions have also been asked to grow more food to aid the fight against hunger.

Recently, Lira Principal agricultural officer Dorcas Alum observed that a move by government to promote commercial agriculture among selected farmers may not contribute to the fight against poverty as well as improving food security.

Alum said the commercial farmers usually sell their produce in foreign markets, leaving Ugandans food-insecure.

She said government should begin buying the food produced by commercial farmers and store it for resale to the citizens.