Uganda faces deadly drought crisis leaving 19 dead and millions at risk.

At least 19 people have died of starvation in Uganda as a hunger crisis brews across the nation. Experts warn that 1.5 million others face malnutrition risks right now. This disaster stems from the worst drought the country has endured in decades. Crops have failed completely, and families are losing loved ones while the situation worsens in northeastern regions and the wider Horn of Africa. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network signals deep alarm for food security here.

The government has started emergency food distribution in Karamoja, yet the worsening drought revives painful memories of the 2022 hunger crisis. That previous tragedy killed more than 2,000 people. Now another wave threatens to repeat that horror. The region is vast and dry with unforgiving terrain. Most communities depend entirely on farming and livestock for survival.

Agnes Kirabo serves as executive director of the Food Rights Alliance in central Uganda. She told Al Jazeera that the lack of rain since April has become a major issue. "Crop losses now range from at least 50 to 70 percent in most areas," she said. Five thousand hectares of crops worth 200 billion shillings have been destroyed, which translates to roughly $53 million in lost value. Lucia Lomiza told Al Jazeera she is still grieving her husband. His death was linked to complications caused by the drought. "Right now, people are burning charcoal to survive," she said. "I don't have the energy to do it." Most of her family members left the village to fend for themselves. She noted that she is not the only one suffering from this drought.

Elijah Loore heads the disaster management committee in the district. He explained that hungry residents arrive at the government office every other day hoping to be given something to eat, but he has little to spare. "More people are becoming malnourished," he said. Children, lactating mothers, the elderly, pregnant women, and disabled individuals who cannot move easily are hit hardest. These groups often cannot even leave home to search for food.

The Karamoja region has not seen rainfall since April, marking the start of the planting season. Kristof Titeca is an assistant professor at the Institute of Development Policy and Management at the University of Antwerp in Belgium. His work focuses on Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He said the food crisis results from a combination of issues where climate change is just one cause of the drought. "First, there is a climate crisis," he explained. Worsening weather has led to prolonged dry spells that are not new to this region. There is also overall environmental degradation linked to widespread poverty. This leads to overgrazing and deforestation.

Conflict between cattle herders and cattle raiders has exacerbated the crisis while food prices rise sharply. "Lastly, and most importantly," Titeca said, "historically, the Karamoja region has been a marginalised region in Uganda." This situation dates back to colonisation and did not improve during successive post-colonial governments. The United States cancellation of foreign aid under President Donald Trump also contributed to the deepening crisis. Aid agencies have severely withdrawn their food aid in the country according to Titeca.

A broader structural solution is needed for Karamoja – it's not the first food crisis in the area and in the current context, it will unfortunately not be the last," he added. Job Kijji, the executive director of IDEA, a policy think tank in Uganda, said the real driver of the current crisis is a failure of governance. "For years, millions of dollars meant for Karamoja have been stolen by corrupt officials. This was perfectly illustrated by the recent iron sheet scandal, where almost the entire cabinet was caught stealing roofing materials meant for housing the Karimojong people," he said.

Kijji pointed out that Karamoja is incredibly rich in gold, limestone and granite, yet investors take it all and leave locals to starve despite the region having a dedicated ministry. "The ultimate irony is that western Uganda pours away excess milk while Karamoja starves. We don't need aid. We need systemic investment in climate-smart agriculture, water harvesting, irrigation and national preservation networks to move food from surplus areas to deficient ones," he added.

FRA's Kirabo noted that the region has adequate rainfall and water routes from Masaba and Sebei to achieve food self-sufficiency but lacks necessary investment in water infrastructure and the timely release of food aid and agricultural extension services. "The recurring shortages are caused by a combination of climate change, weak institutions' poor planning and coordination of efforts, together leaving communities increasingly vulnerable. But these are compounded by chronic poverty, limited crop production potential and herd sizes diminished by years of cattle rustling," she said.

What has the government done to address the crisis? Reporting from Uganda, Al Jazeera's Catherine Soi said the Ugandan government has set aside $18m in aid for the Karamoja region. On July 22, after 19 people died of starvation in Karamoja, the government began a food distribution system, sending supplies of maize flour and beans.

FRA's Kirabo said the Office of the Prime Minister is delivering nearly 9.5 million kilogrammes of relief food comprising maize flour and dry beans, targeting more than 300,000 households in 480 parishes in the nine districts of Karamoja. "The government has also released 45 billion shillings [$12m] for this effort. The distribution exercise will run for two months, covering July and August 2026," she said. The government has also committed to distributing drought-resistant, disease-resistant, and early-maturing seed varieties ahead of the next planting season, she said.

Sam Engola, minister for disaster preparedness and refugees, launched the aid distribution efforts on July 22 and wrote on X the following day that Uganda had also held a meeting with the World Food Programme (WFP) to "discuss the ongoing government interventions of providing food relief to vulnerable families and establishing effective and equitable strategies to support those affected by the hunger crisis". I highlighted that while immediate food relief is critical, it remains a short-term measure.

Collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture focuses on sustainable, long-term solutions for Karamoja. Specific investments target irrigation schemes, valley dams, grain silos, and drought-resistant crops to secure the future. These initiatives aim to build community resilience while boosting crop and livestock production significantly. The ultimate goal transforms this region into a self-sufficient food basket capable of supplying other areas. This shift moves the area away from relying on annual relief efforts entirely.

Millions of people across Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, and South Sudan face severe food shortages as well. Uganda is not the only nation in the Horn of Africa suffering from recurring droughts. Yet experts question whether current government actions will truly help local populations survive these challenges. Kijji argues the state continues deploying a failed playbook by sending emergency maize flour and beans only after starvation sets in. Such aid functions merely as a political band-aid rather than offering a sustainable path forward for farmers.

To fix this deep-rooted problem, experts demand abandoning the handout model completely. The government must aggressively invest in local production systems that can withstand harsh conditions. Climate-smart agricultural methods and localized water harvesting become essential components of this new strategy. Solar-powered irrigation networks and mechanized agriculture will replace outdated practices. Climate-resilient crop production ensures farmers can survive unpredictable weather patterns without help from abroad.

Uganda needs immediate improvements to its national food distribution and preservation infrastructure right now. The country does not suffer from a total food shortage but faces a structural distribution crisis instead. Extreme irony defines the situation where farmers in western Uganda sometimes pour away excess milk due to a lack of market access. Meanwhile children in Karamoja die of acute hunger just miles away from surplus regions. We must invest heavily in modern preservation systems and post-harvest storage facilities immediately. Nationwide cold chains can safely transfer food from surplus-producing areas to food-deficient zones without spoilage.

Robust resource governance and strict accountability form the backbone of any real solution moving forward. Mineral revenues extracted from Karamoja must be legally ring-fenced to fund agricultural infrastructure in the sub-region. Prosecution of officials who embezzle relief funds remains a rigorous necessity for public trust. Kirabo emphasized shifting from aid distribution to local food procurement as a primary strategy for change. Contingency funds should release directly to district disaster management committees for rapid local response capabilities. Sub-national governments must possess resources and authority to respond without waiting for orders from Kampala first.

Addressing the root causes of chronic poverty requires long-term investment in education, health services, infrastructure development, and economic diversification. The Karamoja hunger crisis is not primarily a climate crisis according to these analysts. It stands as a governance crisis that demands immediate political attention and action. We have the data available to us for forecasting potential disasters. We possess every reason to prepare adequately against such events. Yet here we are burying our dead while rationing limited relief supplies daily. That reality must change soon if communities are to survive.