The drought in the Horn of Africa is now taking its toll on Ugandan farmers who are counting their losses after acres of maize plantations have been destroyed due to lack of rainfall.

By Joseph Elunya

The prolonged drought which has lasted since March has destroyed 7000 acres of maize plantations in Bulambuli - the food basket of eastern Uganda. The drought has left 500 families in Bulambuli district with nothing to eat.

“We planted maize in March for the new season but the rain immediately disappeared and the maize just got stunted in the gardens. Now our hope of getting food for this year’s harvest season has faded because the whole plantation has been destroyed by the sun,” remarked Sophia Mwangusho a mother of five children from Bunambera village who said she did not know how she will feed her children until next year’s harvest.

Hunger
Local officials report that two people have so far starved to death due to lack of food.
The deceased have been identified as Solombi Damascus and Abdullah Wadala all residents of Bunanbera parish.

“The two were elderly men who were abandoned in their farm houses by the children who migrated to neighboring districts to offer cheap labour in exchange of food. They were discovered by local residents after they had already starved to death” explains Michael Kimat the area local council leader.

“People have abandoned their farm houses and have moved to settle around Mbale-Moroto road where they can beg for food from neighbors,” Kimat adds that the drought which has hit the area is the worst he has seen in the 40 years he has spent in the affected area.

Survival
88-year-old Tindya Damascus narrowly survived death after he was rescued by good Samaritans who found him unconscious in his mud and wattle hut where he had spent a week without eating.

Tindya, who is now recovering, explains that he was abandoned by his five children who crossed over the border to Kenya to look for something to eat.

“I have five children, three boys and two girls but they left home and went to Kenya as a result of famine leaving me behind. I have nothing to eat because I used to survive on growing maize to make a living and for food,” remarked Tindya in a subdued tone.
 

Disaster
Farmers demand that the government declares the region a disaster area.

“The government should declare Bulambuli a disaster area so that we can get help from the World Food Program because the government has so far failed to help us with any form of relief. We will lose several lives if nothing is done because the next planting season is in March next year and harvesting will be in July to August,” laments Michael Kimat a local leader who claims the government has abandoned them.

Kimat explains that the visit made last week by the Ugandan State Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Relief Musa Ecweru to the area is inconsequential since he came along with very little food.
 

Irrigation
Kimat says government should consider irrigating the place. “You can see rivers from Mount Elgon that pass close to the farms but the water cannot be tapped yet maize is drying in the gardens. The government should do something to make sure this place continues being the food basket for eastern Uganda.” A frustrated Kimat faults the government for doing very little to modernise agricultural practices in the country.

Musa Ecweru the Ugandan Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees says the government is negotiating with the development partners to offer relief to the affected farmers.