Caroline Ayugi
30 September 2008
Kampala — STATE minister for disaster preparedness Musa Ecweru has warned of an impending famine if farmers did not stop selling their produce to southern Sudan and other neighbouring countries.
"There is booming trade in Sudan, but people may not use the money they get because they will have no food to buy," Ecweru cautioned last week.
Many people in Uganda are are carrying out trade in southern Sudan following the return of peace in the region.
The minister was speaking at the international deaf awareness week at Pece Stadium in Gulu district.
He urged the people to maintain the traditional practice of keeping foodstuffs in granaries so that they could turn to them in case famine struck.
Ecweru noted that the first planting season especially in the northern and West Nile regions had yielded little.
He urged farmers to exploit the next season to compensate for the loss.
Ecweru promised free food for people with disabilities (PWDs), saying they are vulnerable.
"While we tried to implement government programmes, there were gaps created and persons with disabilities were the victims. We are ready to fill these gaps," Ecweru said.
The Gulu district councillor for PWDs, William Odong, expressed his gratitude over the district's decision to cater for them.
"The district chairman (Norbert Mao) has been an advocate for us, ensuring that before implementing any programme, concerns for PWDs are highlighted," the councillor said.
The district was awarded a certificate as the best performer on issues concerning PWDs by the Uganda Deaf Association.
Century Bottling Company emerged second-best.
Associations of the deaf from the districts of Lira, Apac, Kitgum, Isingiro, Tororo, Iganga, Masaka and Kamuli attended the awareness week.
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