Museveni redirects road funds to support drought-stricken Uganda

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni announced on Sunday that funds budgeted for road construction will be diverted into providing food aid for millions affected by drought in the country.

He told the media while delivering relief items to people affected by prolonged drought in Kaliro District in eastern Uganda, local media Daily Monitor reported.

“People should restore granaries to store food, grow drought-resistant crops and engage in commercial agriculture for food and income security,” he advised while on a tour of other districts together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to deliver food items to residents.

People should restore granaries to store food, grow drought-resistant crops & engage in commercial agriculture for food and income security. pic.twitter.com/lL9cHhinTT

— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) December 12, 2016

Museveni also warned against the invasion of wetlands and local water resources. He said his government will procure solar-powered water pumps to pump water into reservoirs for communities to curb the act.

Government will procure solar-powered water pumps to pump water into reservoirs for communities instead of people invading wetlands. pic.twitter.com/dJFeBoYqMU

— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) December 12, 2016

Crops in many parts of Uganda have been destroyed due to prolonged drought caused by changing rainfall pattern, floods and landslides, according to the UN food agency FAO which warned of impending food crisis early this year.

The government acknowledged in November that over 1.3 million Ugandans are already in need of urgent food aid as a result of starvation caused by climate change.