BUNYORO NOT HIT BY FAMINE-REPORT

By Innocent Atuganyira

BUNYORO:

According to the report tabled before cabinet by the ministry of agriculture on the hunger situation in Uganda, Bunyoro, Ankole, Kigezi sub regions have not been hit by famine outbreak in the country.

They were ranked 6th position at 4.2%. Other regions are Rwenzori 5th at 6.3% while Buganda is 4th at 17.7%.

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

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

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 coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war which has affected the prices of fertilizers.

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

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

According to Rt. Hon. Andrew Byakutanga the Prime Minister of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, they haven’t achieved their target since they want the people of Bunyoro to have enough food and surplus for income.

‘’We haven’t achieved our target, we want our people to have enough food and have a surplus for income to boost the household income,’’ he said.

The premier also asserted that the Kingdom is implementing a program dubbed ‘’Enka Ekwesimisa’’ literally meaning a family with all the necessities which is aiming at improving the food security and livelihood of all families in the Kingdom.

He also asked people in Bunyoro to grow more crops and kick hunger out of their homes.

While in Masindi recently, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja the Prime of Uganda asked the people of Bunyoro to desist from growing sugarcane if they have less land.

‘’If you don’t have enough land don’t grow sugarcane rather embrace growing fast growing crops which will earn you a living,’’ she asked.