Food insecurity and drought threaten communities in Uganda and South Sudan

East Africa is facing escalating food insecurity driven by drought and climate instability. In Uganda’s Karamoja region, particularly within the Kotido and Kaabong districts, a worsening hunger crisis has prompted calls for urgent intervention. Food security assessments indicate that approximately 32 percent of the Karamoja population is experiencing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels of hunger. While President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has deployed food assistance, local leaders are advocating for long-term structural investments in irrigation, infrastructure, and sustainable livelihoods to address the root causes of the recurring crisis.

Simultaneously, South Sudan is facing high levels of food insecurity due to unpredictable rainfall and prolonged drought. The nation’s heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture and pastoralism makes it highly vulnerable to climate shocks. Humanitarian assessments from the FAO and WFP highlight that these conditions threaten crop production, livestock, and water availability. Experts are calling for early action and increased climate resilience to prevent further deterioration of household livelihoods and rising malnutrition rates.