Kampala — Moroto local government has appealed to the Prime Minister's Office to avail it with over 25,000 metric tonnes of food to avert famine-related deaths in the district.

The chief administrative officer, Luke Lokuda, said in a letter to the Permanent secretary in the Prime Minister's office, the food was required to feed over 33,000 people threatened by the famine.

"The food situation in the district is getting out of hand with reported cases of death resulting from famine-related ailments," Lokuda said.

He said the affected sub-counties included Lopei and Lotome in Bokora county and Katikekile, Nadunget and Rupa in Matheniko county.

Lokuda said the threat of famine was caused by the lack of rain that affected crop production.

He said Moroto municipality had 1,467 households affected by the shortage, while Matheniko and Bokora counties had 13,669 and 17,902 households affected.

Lokuda said 19,823 tonnes of cereal and 3,965 tonnes of pulses were required to feed the population until September next year when they harvested their crop.