By Kunihira Flavia Publicity officer caritas uganda
In June 2026, the Catholic Bishop of Kotido Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dominic, Eibu, MCCJ, appealed for solidarity and assistance with food and other essential supplies for families affected by the hunger crisis in Karamoja.
The response has brought together dioceses, parishes, institutions and individuals from across the country. Through parish collections, in-kind donations and financial contributions. The Catholic Church continues to demonstrate solidarity with communities affected by hunger.
Current Situation
Karamoja continues to face a severe food security and livelihood crisis, with an estimated 473,000 people affected and approximately 41,000 experiencing emergency levels of food insecurity. Prolonged drought, erratic and failed rains, poor harvests, and depleted household food reserves have left many families struggling to meet their basic needs.
Children remain among the hardest hit, with more than 122,000 children under five requiring urgent treatment for acute malnutrition. As household food stocks decline, many vulnerable families are increasingly resorting to negative coping mechanisms, including skipping meals, reducing food consumption, and selling firewood to meet their immediate needs.
A Growing Wave of Solidarity
Caritas Kampala Archdiocese has continued to mobilise food items through its parish collections, while Caritas Kasese has launched the second phase of its diocesan food collection. In the Northern Region, Caritas Nebbi has mobilised UGX 3.1 million towards its target of UGX 5 million, while dioceses under the Gulu Ecclesiastical Province continue to mobilise grain and other resources for a joint consignment to Karamoja.
Caritas Arua has also continued its parish-based campaign, mobilising both cash and in-kind contributions. Meanwhile, Caritas Soroti is exploring opportunities to support longer-term recovery through the mobilisation of seeds for farmers, with ten bags of millet already pledged.
Food Support Reaches Karamoja
The collective efforts of the Church have already translated into direct support for vulnerable communities in Karamoja.
A second food consignment, jointly mobilised through Kampala Archdiocese and Caritas Kampala, Kasana-Luwero Diocese and Caritas Uganda, was delivered to Moroto and received by Caritas Moroto. The consignment included 1,820 kg of rice, 7,790 kg of maize flour, 654 kg of beans and 109 kg of cowpeas, alongside other essential food items including cooking oil, salt and sugar.
In a separate intervention, Caritas Uganda flagged off a truck carrying 5 tonnes of maize flour and 3 tonnes of beans to support families affected by hunger in Kotido.
Part of the food assistance received in Moroto was provided to Matany Hospital to support the growing number of hunger-related admissions. The remaining support has been distributed to vulnerable households and used to complement ongoing humanitarian interventions targeting communities that have not been reached by other forms of assistance.
Caritas Moroto continues to work closely with the District Disaster Management Committee and other humanitarian partners to help ensure that assistance reaches those most in need.
In Kotido, Caritas continues to work with communities, parishes and district structures in responding to the crisis. Communities are also beginning to look beyond immediate relief, with an increasing demand for fast-maturing vegetable seeds as they prepare for the upcoming rains.
From Emergency Relief to Lasting Solutions
While emergency food assistance remains critical in saving lives, the recurring food and livelihood crises in Karamoja require sustained action to address their underlying causes. The growing interest in agricultural inputs and livelihood recovery demonstrates the importance of complementing emergency assistance with interventions that enable communities to rebuild and strengthen their resilience.
Caritas Uganda recognises that a lasting solution to the Karamoja crisis must go beyond responding to hunger when it occurs. There is a need for sustained investment in climate-resilient agriculture, water access and management, livelihood diversification, nutrition, environmental restoration and social protection for vulnerable households.
The organisation will continue to advocate, alongside its diocesan network and other stakeholders, for stronger and more coordinated action to address the structural challenges that leave communities vulnerable to recurring drought, food insecurity and livelihood shocks. This includes advocating for greater investment in sustainable development interventions and ensuring that the priorities and experiences of Karamoja communities inform policies, programmes and development planning.
Community voices must remain at the centre of these efforts. The people most affected by the crisis understand the challenges they face and should play a meaningful role in shaping solutions that affect their livelihoods and future.
Through sustained advocacy, strategic partnerships and community-led solutions, Caritas Uganda seeks not only to respond to today’s hunger crisis but also to help build a more resilient Karamoja—one where families are better equipped to withstand future shocks, sustain their livelihoods and live with dignity.
As the response continues, Caritas Uganda and its diocesan network will strengthen mobilisation, coordination, and the timely delivery of assistance, while linking emergency relief to longer-term recovery and resilience-building efforts.
However, the needs remain significant, and the appeal continues.
Let us continue to share our food with Karamoja.
