Photo: Antony Kaminju/IRIN

(file photo)

MPs have asked the Government to take address the severe food shortage in their region following the prolonged drought.

The Legislators under their umbrella body, Greater North Parliamentary Group told a news conference in Kampala that many areas were affected by the prolonged dry spell and extreme temperatures which led poor or no harvests.

"We need relief interventions from the Government to assist our people who almost lost 90% of their crops in the burnt gardens and now have nothing to feed on," the group chairperson, Vura County MP, Sam Okuonzi said.

He added that the Government needs to supply seeds and production tools such as hoes and ox ploughs to assist the affected people cope with the looming famine that is likely to result in sudden shocks like excessive sell of household stocks.

The Soroti Municipality MP, Mike Mukula, said he will on Thursday move a motion to compel the Government to respond to cries of inadequate food in the region.

"We have agreed to task the Government to come to these people's rescue before the worse gets to the worst. The country will also experience inflation in the long run due to lack of enough food in the country," Mukula said.

The greater north parliamentary group draws together MPs from the traditional districts of Teso, Karamoja, Acholi, Lango, Bugisu, West Nile and Bukedi.