The state minister for Relief and disaster preparedness warns that the country is facing a severe food shortage triggered off by the rising global food prices and a long spell of drought.
The most affected parts include northern, northeastern, and eastern region, which were hit by floods and a long spell of drought that led to crop failure.
Speaking to reporters in Kampala, Musa Ecweru, noted that the high competition for the limited food in the region by neighboring Sudan and Kenya have also contributed to the food shortages, because farmers prefer to export their produce to fetch higher returns.
According to the minister, the people in Karamoja have started eating rodents, beer dregs, and wild fruits. More than 30 hunger related deaths have so far been reported.
Ecweru said the situation in the affected areas has been worsened by the population's lack of money to buy food.
Last week, Government released 3 billion shillings of the required 9.2 billion shillings to address the food needs of the affected population up to next month.
Ecweru says the money is intended to supplement efforts by the UN World Food Program to distribute relief food to the affected areas especially in Karamoja. He has called for international assistance to help address the food crisis.
