Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
10 July 2009
Kampala — Ugandan churches are alarmed that the food shortage in the dry northern parts of the country could soon degenerate to a humanitarian catastrophe.
More than 30 people have reportedlydied in the recent past as a result of hunger in various parts of West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Teso.
The Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) on Thursday appealed to the government and the international community to urgently come to the assistance of the affected people.
UJCC said that the famine situation in northern and north-eastern Uganda has assumed an alarming crisis proportion due to prolonged drought which was preceded by devastating floods.
The organization also blamed the Ugandan government for the crisis, saying that it was the result of lack of proper planning on the part of the authorities.
"We urge that the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness to put in place strong enforcement mechanisms through its policies and programmes to address such situations before they get out of hand."
Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, should "take personal control of the situation in order to bring hope to the suffering people of northern and northeastern Uganda who have just emerged from a long and bitter conflict."
Whenever a disaster such as drought strikes a people and renders them incapable of feeding themselves, the government is expected to step in to provide food and other basic necessities to the affected people, the organization reminded.
The council also expressed disappointment regarding the recklessness and insensitivity demonstrated by some senior Government officials in handling the crisis.
"We do firmly believe that the unfortunate incidents of loss of lives which have occurred could have been prevented. What is now required is quick, decisive action to prevent the crisis from assuming a more ominous proportion," the said in the statement.
Uganda Joint Christian Council is an ecumenical organization established in 1963. Its current membership comprises of the Church of Uganda, The Roman Catholic Church and the Uganda Orthodox Church.
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