President, Yoweri Museveni has directed the Disaster Preparedness to arrange for swift delivery of more relief food to Katakwi district. Museveni issued the directive on Tuesday afternoon while campaigning for Joseph Koluo, the NRM candidate in the Toroma County MP by elections.
It came after several residents asked Museveni to consider providing them more relief food as they wait for their first crop harvest, about two months away. More than 8000 households in Katakwi district currently survive on a meal day, due to food shortage resulting from prolonged drought.
Speaking at the rally at Magoro Primary school, one of the residents, Moses Okela, said whereas they have planted fast maturing crops, several people including the elderly, people living with HIV/AIDS, child headed families and expectant mothers are starving due to lack of food.
Okela noted that the food relief distributed by government sometime back was inadequate and asked the president to intervene and ensure adequate provision of relief supplies to the starving communities.
Stephen Okwalinga, the LC I Chairperson Magoro Village in Magoro Sub County asked government to continue supplying relief to the district for the next two months as residents wait to harvest their crops. At this point, Museveni directed the Disaster Preparedness Ministry to swiftly arrange more relief supplies for the affected communities in Katakwi district.
He however, asked the local leaders to encourage residents to cultivate food for their subsistence and commercial purposes so as to boost their income. The State Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Musa Ecweru assured residents of more relief food supplies.
He confirmed that much as the community had planted fast maturing crops, there is still overwhelming need for food relief. Walter Elakas Okiring, the Katakwi LC V chairperson welcomed the move and asked government to expedite the delivery of food relief.
Recently, government dispatched 2,000 bags of maize flour and 1,000 bags of beans in Toroma County soon after police blocked the distribution of relief supplies by Dr. Kiiza Besigye, the FDC party presidential candidate.
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