Kampala — NOBODY has died of hunger in Teso region, the agriculture minister, Hope Mwesigye, has said. "People are dying of diseases not hunger. People will always die whether there is food or hunger," said Mwesigye while meeting the Kaberamaido district leaders on Friday.

She made the remarks after visiting Katakwi, Amuria, Bukedea, Kumi and Soroti districts.

"I came to the region on the instructions of President Yoweri Museveni. The district leaders have informed me that although there is a food shortage, no people died of hunger," said Mwesigye.

She said the recent media reports which indicated that people had died of hunger were exaggerated by the area MPs who wanted to portray that the NRM government had failed to perform.

"I asked your MPs to accompany me to the fields. Unfortunately, none of them has honoured my invitation. They are busy parading sick people for journalists in Kampala to indicate that the Government has failed," said Mwesigye.

She advised the people not to elect the MPs back to Parliament.

Mwesigye also informed the leaders that food shortage had been reported in 52 districts. The world over, there is increased food shortage. The climate has changed and we can no longer afford to do business as usual, said Mwesigye.

She asked politicians to encourage their people to prepare more land for the coming planting season. The Kaberamaido district chairperson, Robert Engulu, cautioned his technical staff against messing up with the National Agricultural Advisory Services programme funds.

"I am a member of the Forum for Democratic Change but I will join President Museveni to fight corruption," Engulu said.

He informed the minister that sh100m meant to cater for the food supplies had been mismanaged. Mwesigye set up a committee to investigate the matter and make a report within one week.