More than 473,000 people in the Karamoja Sub-region are facing acute food insecurity, with tens of thousands already in emergency conditions, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report.
The assessment, conducted jointly by the government and humanitarian and development partners, found that 473,000 people were experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity between April and July 2026.
It also projects continued hardship through February 2027 despite an anticipated seasonal improvement. According to the report, about 41,000 people are classified under IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), while another 432,000 are in IPC Phase 3 (Critical).
The worst-hit districts are Kaabong, Kotido, Karenga, Moroto and Nabilatuk, where more than five percent of the population is in emergency conditions and up to 45 percent are facing crisis or worse.
”Compared to the same period last year, the situation has moderately deteriorated with a two percent increase in the affected population, driven by climate shocks, below-average food and livestock production, pest and disease outbreaks and high food prices,” the report states.
Although the report projects some improvement between August 2026 and February 2027 as harvests are expected, it warns that food insecurity will remain entrenched in parts of Karamoja.
The number of people in Phase 3 is expected to decline from 432,000 to about 352,000, but districts such as Kaabong, Karenga and Moroto are still expected to have between 25 and 35 percent of their populations facing crisis-level food insecurity.
The report also raises concern over worsening malnutrition, estimating that between March 2026 and February 2027, about 122,100 children aged between six and 59 months will suffer acute malnutrition, including 30,600 who are expected to be severely malnourished.
Another 8,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are projected to require nutritional treatment. Kaabong and Kotido remain the most affected by acute malnutrition despite a slight improvement from last year, with global acute malnutrition falling from 13.5 percent in 2025 to 11.4 percent.
The report attributes persistent malnutrition to poor dietary diversity, high disease burden, limited access to safe water and inadequate nutrition services.
Karamoja Affairs Minister John Baptist Lokii said the government had stepped up relief food distribution to cushion vulnerable households as the region waits for the return of rains.
”The food that has been delivered should sustain the affected communities through August. Once the rains return in September, the government will distribute early-maturing crop seeds as part of measures to prevent another food crisis,” Mr Lokii said.
He blamed the current food shortage on widespread crop failure caused by poor rainfall across the sub-region.
Residents noted that they have become desperate because of the situation. ”We are starving, and it is even worse for the little children. Food is scarce and very expensive,” said Ms Maria Losiike, a resident of Lorengedwat Sub-county in Nabilatuk District.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja recently flagged off more than 9.4 million kilogrammes of relief food destined for Karamoja, saying the government was pursuing both emergency interventions and long-term solutions, including irrigation and research into drought-tolerant and early-maturing crop varieties.
Karamoja has experienced repeated food crises linked to climate shocks. In 2022, the sub-region suffered one of its worst hunger emergencies, with more than 900 deaths reported to have been associated with starvation.
Kotido District Chairperson Paul Komol Lotee said at least 19 people have recently died from suspected hunger-related complications, although he noted that ongoing government relief efforts have started easing the situation for many households.