FEATURE: ACHOLI HUNGER CRISIS DEEPENS

 

Hon Alfred Akena LC 5 pader district addressing Journalist sited next is Hon Justin Obol simple man LC 5 Gulu district during a press conference at Bomah Hotel.

By Stephen Odong

Gulu City

The morning sun rises over the villages of the Acholi sub-region. Children wake up, mothers light cooking fires, and farmers prepare to head to their gardens. But in many homes, there is little or nothing to cook.

Granaries that once overflowed with millet, sorghum, and maize now stand empty after failed harvests, prolonged dry spells, and rising food prices pushed thousands of households deeper into food insecurity.

Many parents are skipping meals so their children can eat, while others survive on just one meal a day, hoping the next rainy season will bring relief. Families are increasingly forced to choose between buying food, paying school fees, or seeking medical care.

Health workers across the region are also reporting growing cases of malnutrition, particularly among children under five and pregnant mothers, as the food crisis continues to worsen.

For many residents, hunger is no longer a seasonal challenge it has become a daily reality.

Agriculture remains the backbone of Acholi’s economy, but unpredictable rainfall, prolonged drought, crop pests, and the effects of climate change have severely affected production, leaving many farming families without food or income.

The situation has become so severe that several districts have reported hunger-related deaths.

On 20 July 2026, district chairpersons from across the Acholi sub-region jointly appealed to the Government of Uganda, through President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Office of the Prime Minister, to provide emergency food relief to the most affected communities.

Leaders unite under Acholi Local Government Leaders’ Forum

L-R: Cisto Oyet, LC 5 Lamwo District, Justine Obol Simpleman, LC V Gulu District, Patrick Okello Oryema, LCV Nwoya District, Alfred Akena, LCV Pader District, Andrew Okot, LCV Omoro District and Tonny Blair Toolit, LCV Kitgum District during a press Conference at Bomah Hotel ON 20th July, 2026.

The Chairperson of Pader District and Chairperson of the Acholi Local Government Leaders’ Forum, Hon. Alfred Akena, said the newly formed forum aims to unite leaders in addressing the region’s longstanding development challenges, particularly poverty and food insecurity.

According to Akena, Acholi’s poverty levels remain among the highest in Uganda despite the region’s enormous agricultural potential.

“Our region depends almost entirely on rain-fed agriculture, but climate change has made rainfall increasingly unreliable,” he said.

He noted that while government programmes are aimed at transforming Uganda into a middle-income economy, Acholi continues to struggle with persistent poverty and worsening food insecurity.

“We need government support in irrigation, commercial agriculture, mechanisation and other interventions that will help farmers produce throughout the year rather than depending entirely on rainfall,” Akena said.

He appealed directly to President Museveni to respond urgently to the leaders’ concerns.

“Please respond, President Museveni. These are your leaders crying out. You mandated us to coordinate, respond and link our people with government. We pray that government acts immediately because the people of Acholi want development, but without food, development is impossible.”

Akena said while farmers will require seeds once the rains resume, the immediate priority is emergency food assistance.

“Seeds can be provided when the rains begin so people can resume farming. But what matters most now is food because innocent people are dying of hunger across Acholi.”

Crop failure leaves thousands without harvests

The Vice Chairperson of the Acholi Local Government Leaders’ Forum and Gulu District LC V Chairperson, Hon. Justin Obol, said the prolonged dry spell destroyed crops across the region, leaving many households without any harvest.

“The drought has affected every district in Acholi. Many farmers harvested nothing this season,” Obol said.

Despite the crisis, he said district leaders remain committed to implementing government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), cattle restocking, and the Youth Livelihood Programme.

However, he warned that these initiatives cannot succeed unless the immediate food crisis is addressed.

“We shall continue working together to ensure government programmes succeed, but hunger must first be addressed because it affects every aspect of people’s lives.”

Hunger deaths reported in Agago

Agago District LC V Chairperson Hon. Wilson Otto described the situation in his district as devastating.

He revealed that at least 15 people have reportedly died from hunger, with 351 cases of malnutrition recorded in health facilities between June and July alone.

“These figures speak for themselves,” Otto said.

He added that besides drought, communities are also battling insecurity along the Karamoja border and increasing destruction of crops by elephants crossing from protected wildlife areas.

“More than 100 elephants are destroying crops in our communities,” he said.

Otto said the challenges are affecting not only Agago but also neighbouring districts such as Lamwo.

He welcomed the formation of the Acholi Local Government Leaders’ Forum, saying it gives leaders a stronger collective voice when engaging government.

The district leaders have agreed to petition the Office of the Prime Minister for emergency assistance.

“If Shs45 billion was allocated to support Karamoja, then Acholi also deserves similar support because our people are suffering,” Otto said.

He added that many rural families are surviving on porridge and pawpaw as their only daily meals.

“The level of hunger is extremely high. We appeal to government to support the people of Acholi.”

Hunger disrupts education and maternal health

Kitgum District LC V Chairperson Hon. Tonny Blair Tolit said the food crisis has extended beyond households and is now affecting schools and health facilities.

He said many children are attending school on empty stomachs while others have dropped out altogether because their families cannot provide food.

Schools that previously enrolled more than 2,000 learners are now reporting fewer than 500 pupils.

“Children cannot concentrate in class when they are hungry,” Tolit said.

He also raised concerns about worsening maternal and child health.

According to Tolit, health facilities are recording increasing numbers of babies born with dangerously low birth weights, many weighing between one and 1.5 kilograms.

Some newborns require admission to intensive care units, but many do not survive.

He also cited reports from district health officials linking hunger to an increase in miscarriages.

“This is not just a discussion. Hunger is seriously affecting our communities,” he said.

Tolit appealed for emergency food assistance alongside seeds so that families can plant once the rains return.

“Our communities urgently need food now, and seeds for the next planting season so that they can rebuild their livelihoods.”

Communities search for lasting solutions

Despite the worsening crisis, many communities are working to strengthen their resilience.

Some farmers have started planting drought-resistant crops, while women’s groups are establishing kitchen gardens to improve household nutrition. Community organisations are also promoting climate-smart agriculture to help farmers adapt to changing weather patterns.

However, local leaders say these efforts alone cannot meet the scale of the current humanitarian crisis.

Without immediate government intervention, they warn that hunger, malnutrition, school absenteeism and preventable deaths could continue to rise across the Acholi sub-region.

Lamwo reports hunger deaths as leaders call for emergency response

Lamwo District LC V Chairperson Hon. Cisto Oyet described the situation in his district as a humanitarian emergency, saying prolonged drought has left thousands of households without food after crops failed before harvest.

According to Oyet, maize fields that had reached maturity withered before farmers could harvest, leaving families without food reserves.

“We are facing a state of emergency caused by hunger,” he said.

He revealed that eight people have reportedly died from hunger in Lamwo District, while 126 patients are receiving treatment for hunger-related illnesses in health facilities. Children suffering from severe acute malnutrition are being referred to Love Plus One Hospital in Gulu City for specialised treatment.

“This means we are in a very serious emergency. People have already started dying, and more lives will be lost unless urgent intervention is made,” Oyet warned.

The drought has also triggered internal displacement within the district, with families moving from the worst-hit sub-counties in search of food, only to discover that neighbouring communities are facing similar shortages.

Although signs of rain have begun to appear, Oyet cautioned that communities fear the rains could arrive as heavy storms associated with El Niño, potentially causing floods and further destruction.

He appealed to the government to provide emergency food relief across the entire Acholi sub-region, followed by seed distribution once conditions are suitable for planting.

“We did not harvest anything during the first season, which means farmers have no seed left for the next planting season. Food must come first, and when the rains stabilise, government should provide seeds so people can resume farming.”

Oyet also noted that food prices have risen beyond the reach of many households.

“Even families with some money cannot afford food because prices have more than tripled. A kilogram of maize that previously sold for about Shs400 now costs around Shs1,400. Acholi is in a state of emergency and urgently needs food relief and agricultural support.”

Gulu City feels the effects of the food crisis

Although Gulu City is largely urban, Mayor His Worship Julius Labeja Acire said the city is experiencing the ripple effects of the food shortage because it serves as the main market for agricultural produce from across the Acholi sub-region.

Acire welcomed the formation of the Acholi Local Government Leaders’ Forum, saying coordinated leadership would strengthen advocacy and help develop long-term solutions to recurring food crises.

“Collaboration and partnership are essential if we are to find lasting solutions. We must focus on people-centred service delivery while diversifying livelihoods so communities are not left vulnerable whenever rainfall fails,” he said.

He urged leaders to maximise government programmes such as the National Social Action Fund (NUSAF IV), Emyooga, the Youth Livelihood Programme and cattle restocking initiatives to provide alternative sources of income.

Acire also emphasised the importance of climate-smart agriculture, tree planting and wetland conservation in reducing the long-term effects of climate change.

“We cannot talk about hunger without addressing its causes. Climate change is one of the biggest drivers of the current food crisis, and protecting our environment must become part of the solution.”

He added that rising food prices are affecting both households and businesses in Gulu City.

“The cost of maize, beans, soybeans and other food commodities has increased sharply. Livestock farmers are equally affected because the prices of maize bran and other animal feeds continue to rise.”

Nwoya calls for affordable irrigation

Nwoya District LC V Chairperson Hon. Patrick Okello Oryema said while emergency food relief is urgently needed, the region must also invest in long-term solutions to reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture.

He appealed to the government to expand access to water for production and reduce the financial contribution required from farmers seeking irrigation support.

“Water for production is one of the most effective ways to address drought, but many farmers cannot afford the required contribution. Government should reduce the farmers’ share so more households can access solar-powered irrigation systems.”

Oryema said irrigation would allow farmers to diversify into high-value crops such as vegetables, improving both food security and household incomes.

He noted that Acholi possesses enough fertile land to feed much of Uganda but remains constrained by limited investment in irrigation and modern agriculture.

Using Nwoya as an example, he cited the district’s Bukona processing factory, which requires approximately 75,000 tonnes of maize and cassava annually, presenting a significant market opportunity for local farmers.

“If we mobilise our farmers to produce for these markets, we can create wealth within households and significantly reduce poverty.”

However, he said wildlife continues to threaten agricultural production in communities bordering protected areas.

In sub-counties such as Koch Lii, Anaka, Purongo and Got Apwoyo, elephants have destroyed large sections of crops that survived the drought.

“The elephants wait until the maize matures before destroying entire gardens, leaving families with nothing to harvest.”

Omoro urges equal government response

Omoro District LC V Chairperson Hon. Andrew Okot Obibi appealed to the government to respond to Acholi’s food crisis with the same urgency shown in other regions facing humanitarian emergencies.

“The situation across Acholi is alarming. Gulu City depends on produce from all our districts, but because of this prolonged drought, the entire sub-region is suffering.”

Okot said that while Acholi has made progress in improving security and promoting unity, food insecurity has emerged as the region’s greatest threat.

“We appeal to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to hear our cry. We are not asking to be treated differently from other regions. We are simply asking for the same timely support when our people are in distress.”

He also urged community members to make proper use of government livelihood programmes, including cattle restocking initiatives, to strengthen household resilience against future shocks.

Leaders renew appeal for emergency food assistance

Closing the leaders’ appeal, Acholi Local Government Leaders’ Forum Chairperson Hon. Alfred Akena reiterated the urgent need for government intervention.

He said while the dry spell may soon come to an end, communities have already exhausted their food reserves and cannot wait for another harvest.

“We are the voices of our people, and today we appeal to government to urgently provide food relief to Acholi. Our people supported the government because they want peace and development, but without food, development cannot happen.”

Akena said agricultural inputs would also be needed once the rains return, but stressed that immediate food assistance must remain the first priority.

“Seeds are important for the next planting season, but food must come first because lives are already being lost.”

A region united in its appeal

Across Acholi, district leaders are speaking with one voice.

While they continue to encourage climate-smart agriculture, irrigation, livelihood diversification and better implementation of government development programmes, they say those long-term solutions cannot succeed unless immediate humanitarian needs are addressed.