MPs have raised concern over prolonged dry conditions in several parts of the country, saying the lack of rain has destroyed crops, killed livestock and left communities facing hunger and water shortages.
The legislators said farmers in their constituencies were struggling to find water for both domestic use and livestock, while many had lost crops planted during the previous growing seasons.
They called on the government to expand irrigation services and provide emergency assistance to communities affected by the dry spell.
David Isimbwa Mulindwa, the MP for Busongora South in Kasese, said the prolonged dry conditions had affected crop production in his constituency, leaving many households facing food shortages.
Mulindwa said farmers needed urgent support through irrigation to reduce their dependence on unreliable rainfall and protect food production.
In Ntungamo, Kajara County MP James Hunter Tukahirwa said livestock farmers were struggling with water shortages because of the prolonged dry spell.
Byenjeru said farmers had also lost plantations after failing to receive adequate rainfall since May.
He called on the ministry of Water and Environment, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to intervene and support affected communities before the situation worsened.
The MP said irrigation should be prioritised to help farmers continue production even when rainfall is inadequate.
Peter Obong Acuda, the MP for Maruzi County in Apac, described the situation in his constituency as one of the worst dry seasons experienced by residents.
Acuda said his area had not received sufficient rainfall since the first planting season and that conditions had become worse during the second season because of water shortages.
“We have no food and water, which has affected our children and the general public,” he said.
He said the shortage of food and water had also affected businesses because many residents depended on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Acuda called for the expansion of irrigation and encouraged farmers to move from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture as a way of strengthening household incomes and food security.
In Adjumani East, MP James Mamawi said farmers had gone for long periods without adequate rainfall, resulting in crop losses and increasing food insecurity.
Mamawi said the situation was particularly concerning because Adjumani is one of the districts hosting refugees, placing additional pressure on local communities and available resources.
He asked the Government, through the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Agriculture, to provide relief assistance to affected households.
He also called for the distribution of quick-maturing crop varieties to enable farmers to recover once the rains return.
Kole South MP Boniface Okot said the effects of climate change were becoming increasingly evident in his constituency.
Okot said that even when rain came, it was sometimes accompanied by hailstorms that damaged crops, making it difficult for farmers to plan their production.
He said changing weather patterns had contributed to food insecurity and called for irrigation to be treated as a priority for farmers across the country.
The MPs said the challenges facing their constituencies went beyond agriculture, with communities also struggling with access to water, health services and infrastructure.
Some MPs also raised concern about the limited time allocated to them for constituency work during parliamentary recess.
They said that although plenary sessions may be suspended during recess, parliamentary committees often continue to conduct business, leaving MPs with limited time to return to their constituencies and directly assess the challenges facing their voters.
The MPs called on the Government to address the immediate effects of the dry spell while also investing in long-term measures such as irrigation, water harvesting and climate-resilient agriculture.
They said such measures would help communities reduce their dependence on increasingly unpredictable rainfall and protect food production and household livelihoods.
Their concerns come as Uganda prepares to mark its independence from British colonial rule, with MPs urging the Government to ensure that independence is reflected in improved access to food, water, healthcare and infrastructure for communities across the country.
