Background

Nearly two decades of conflict between the Government of the Republic of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) spurred widespread insecurity and displaced some 1.8 million people. While the ceasefire agreement of August 2006 strengthened prospects for peace in the north, Karimojong armed aggressions continue and account for the displacement of 110 000 IDPs in northeastern Uganda. Conflict-induced suffering is compounded by climatic shocks, such as drought and flooding, dwindling resources and the influx of refugees from neighbouring countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and the Sudan.

Despite these challenges, humanitarian efforts empowered 500 000 IDPs to return home, with another 400 000 en route.  In the very light of such progress, however, humanitarian needs in Uganda remain high. It is essential to ensure a smooth transition within and from all phases of the resettlement process – from camps, to transit and upon return. Still 800 000 Ugandans in the north have yet to leave IDP camps and less than half of the Karimojong-affected IDPs are expected to return home in 2008. In addition, some 50 000 households (300 000 people) were affected by flooding in the second half of 2007. Estimates reveal that it will take them at least two harvests to fully recover their losses.

Challenges facing food security and livelihoods

High underlying levels of poverty, climatic shocks and long displacements in Uganda have debilitated the coping capacities of vulnerable communities. Recovery is contingent on strengthening the self-reliance of the predominantly food-aid dependant population based on region-specific needs.

Acholi, the former breadbasket of the country, accounts for 20 percent of Uganda’s arable land. Now, limited assets remain, land access is restricted and livestock decimation has reached alarming levels, with only 5 to 10 percent of households owning animals. As food aid currently contributes to between 33 and 40 percent of the average household food basket, the sustainable resumption of agricultural production is paramount to food security.

High rates of IDP return and increased land access in Lango bring prospects for recovery. However, food insecurity and undernutrition levels in areas of return are higher than expected, with varying levels of food insecurity reported among 74 percent of households in Lira district.  Challenges lie in maximizing land usage, strengthening the coverage of agricultural assistance in pace with the rate of return and increasing the purchasing power of returnees. 

Security problems in Teso have limited households to cultivate their fields for an average of only four hours per day. Coupled with livestock raids, acute flooding and the shortage of markets, agricultural productivity and food availability has plummeted. Many IDP camps are situated in low-lying areas, where crops have rotted due to water logging. 

In Karamoja, over 60 percent of the population is food insecure. A multifaceted approach is needed that combines emergency food assistance with longer-term interventions addressing the root causes of insecurity. Also, strengthening early warning capacities will be essential to monitor changes to livelihood and security situations in a region still contending with ongoing violence.

West Nile and South West host IDPs as well as refugees. Decreasing dependency on food aid in the region is contingent on land access. Only some 18 percent of refugees has phased off food aid, while IDPs, displaced more recently in 2005-2006 due to LRA activity in West Nile, have received considerably less attention.

FAO response

FAO is seeking US$15 095 000 for emergency and rehabilitation assistance in Uganda in 2008. FAO seeks to provide IDPs, refugees and vulnerable host-community members with the inputs and training necessary to resume crop and livestock production, increase food availability and strengthen self-reliance. To maximize interventions throughout the country, FAO will continue to strengthen coordination among actors in the sector to improve efficiency, cost-effectiveness and information gathering, thereby avoiding the duplication of efforts and enhancing the capacity of humanitarian actors to detect and assist communities most in need.

To boost agricultural production, FAO’s proposed activities include seed multiplication at the farmer level, seed fairs and the provision of tools, high-quality crop and vegetable seeds and disease-free cassava/sweet potato cuttings. In addition to training in improved agricultural and livestock practices, FAO endeavours to establish additional farmer field schools (FFSs) as well as school gardens and woodlots in primary schools to prepare children as future food producers while diversifying their nutritional support. FAO also aims to link FFSs with seed suppliers and commodity buyers and improve market infrastructure and accessibility.

Agropastoral interventions will focus on animal restocking, livestock fairs, improving animal health through vaccination campaigns and strengthening the skills of Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs). To counteract environmental degradation, FAO activities will seek to promote conservation agriculture, energy-saving stoves and water management initiatives.

FAO district and regional offices have been established in Gulu, Lira, Kitgum, Soroti and Moroto to increase the Organization’s presence at the field level. With donor support, FAO’s proposed interventions will reduce the risk of rising malnutrition among Uganda’s most vulnerable, empowering them to strengthen their communities while providing for themselves and their families.