Napak Woman MP Faith Nakut says seven months without rain have devastated farmers, forced livestock migrations and threatened Uganda’s food security, calling for emergency relief and investment in water infrastructure.
Napak Woman MP and Parliament Commissioner Faith Nakut has warned that a prolonged drought in Karamoja could trigger a wider food and economic crisis in Uganda unless the government urgently provides relief and invests in long-term water infrastructure.
In an exclusive interview with Nile Post, Nakut said the region had gone more than seven months without rainfall, far exceeding the two to three months normally associated with drought in the sub-region.
“Ordinarily, drought in Karamoja lasts between two and three months. This time, however, the region has gone for more than seven months without rainfall, making the situation severe,” Nakut said.
She said Karamoja had generally experienced two rainy seasons annually over the past 19 years, but this year received rainfall only in March.
Many farmers had prepared their gardens and expected to plant in September based on weather forecasts, she said. However, the anticipated rains failed to materialise, leaving farmers facing losses after investing in land preparation and agricultural inputs.
According to Nakut, some farmers had used funds from the Parish Development Model (PDM) and personal savings to finance their agricultural activities, only to see their investments threatened by the prolonged dry spell.
She said Karamoja remained highly vulnerable to hunger despite its fertile soils because most households depend on subsistence farming, cultivate small plots and lack adequate facilities to store food.
“It is ironic that Karamoja, despite having fertile soils, remains among the regions most vulnerable to hunger. Most farmers cultivate small pieces of land and have limited capacity to produce or store enough food. Without adequate storage facilities, any disruption in rainfall quickly creates serious shocks,” she said.
Nakut also challenged the perception that livestock ownership protects the entire region from food insecurity. She estimated that of Uganda’s approximately seven million cattle, about 2.4 million were in Karamoja, but said the animals were owned by less than 20 per cent of the population.
“The remaining 80 per cent may not even own a goat. Therefore, the presence of large cattle herds should not be mistaken for widespread household wealth,” she said.
The drought is also putting pressure on pastoralist communities, with livestock keepers from Kotido, Moroto and Napak moving their animals towards Teso in search of water and pasture.
Nakut warned that the migrations could leave women, children and older people more vulnerable, while competition over scarce water and grazing land could fuel tensions between communities.
She also linked the region’s recurring food insecurity, insecurity and economic hardship to the continued presence of children from Karamoja on Kampala’s streets.
“When home is repeatedly affected by hunger, insecurity and economic hardship, vulnerable children are more likely to migrate to urban centres,” she said.
Beyond the immediate humanitarian consequences, Nakut warned that prolonged drought could affect Uganda’s wider economy, particularly if it damages export crops such as coffee at a time when fuel prices are rising.
She said reduced agricultural exports could lower foreign exchange earnings and put pressure on the shilling, making imported goods such as fuel, machinery and medicines more expensive.
“If prolonged drought affects export crops like coffee, lower export earnings would reduce the inflow of dollars. The effects of the drought could therefore spread from rural farms to the wider national economy, making imports such as fuel, machinery and medicines more expensive,” she said.
As a long-term response, Nakut called for deliberate investment in bulk water harvesting and water transfer infrastructure to help communities withstand prolonged dry spells.
She urged the government to fast-track the proposed Lopei Multipurpose Dam under the Fourth National Development Plan. The project is estimated to cost Shs417 billion and is projected to hold approximately 132 billion litres of water for irrigation, livestock and domestic use.
Nakut said completing the necessary preparatory work before the expected rains in early 2027 would enable the country to capture and store water for use during dry periods.
“If the necessary work is undertaken before the expected rains in early 2027, the country will be in a better position to harvest and store water instead of allowing it to flow away unused,” she said.
The Karamoja Parliamentary Group has also submitted a list of 40 dams to the Ministry of Water and Environment for desilting, with restoration costs estimated at between Shs1 billion and Shs2 billion per dam.
Nakut said many of the existing facilities were constructed during the colonial period, while others were built by the United Nations Development Programme about 30 years ago. Over time, silt accumulation has reduced their water storage capacity.
She argued that restoring the dams would provide communities with more reliable water supplies, with each rehabilitated facility potentially serving communities for about 20 years.
However, Nakut said infrastructure projects alone would not address the immediate crisis. She called for emergency food and livelihood assistance for affected communities through June 2027, arguing that rainfall returning now would not necessarily guarantee a meaningful harvest.
“Uganda must therefore respond on two fronts: provide emergency food and livelihood assistance to save lives now, while investing in water infrastructure, irrigation and food storage systems to prevent the same crisis from recurring,” she said.