Kampala — The First Lady and Karamoja affairs state minister, Mrs. Janet Museveni, on Sunday held a meeting with the World Food Programme (WFP) boss, Josette Sheeran, at the Speke Resort Munyonyo.

Sheeran, who is based in Italy, was in Uganda to attend the 15th summit of the African Union and to tour the projects being implemented by the WFP in Uganda to ensure food security and value-addition.

One of the projects she was set to tour is a 6,000-tonne warehouse in Gulu, which cleans, dries and packages produce.

The two discussed the WFP's change of approach from providing food aid to encouraging the growing of food crops, which the agency would then buy and distribute to insecure areas within and outside the country.

Mrs. Museveni thanked the food agency for opting to do business differently, adding that the availability of market for the farmers' produce would motivate them to grow more food. This, she added, would transform Uganda into a food basket for its neighbours.

"When WFP buys the produce from the farmers, it gives them the energy to produce more. I have no doubt that Uganda has the potential to produce enough food to feed other countries which are food insecure.

"I want to see this happen in Karamoja, so that they stop depending on food aid and grow food not only to feed themselves, but also to sell and earn income," Mrs. Museveni said.

Sheeran, who was accompanied by the WFP country director, Stanley Samkange, also briefed the First Lady on the agency's new strategy that focuses on food assistance rather than aid.

She added that the agency plans to encourage mothers to feed children on locally produced food fortified with nutrients for good brain development.