The opposition Forum for Democratic Change --FDC leaders put a smile on thousands of residents of Isingiro on Wednesday when they turned up at Mureme primary school in Isingiro district to receive free food.
FDC leaders led by party president, Major-General Mugisha Muntu, former presidential candidate Kizza Besigye, Secretary General Nandala Mafabi, and Stanley Katembeya the party chairperson for western Uganda led a group which delivered a total of 2000 tonnes of posho to residents of Kashumba Sub County, one of the areas most affected by food shortage.
Despite having handed over the food to the local leadership, it was impossible to distribute the items as people from the neighboring sub county of Mbare joined the crowd.
Attempts to make the locals queue up for the posho that was packed in small sacks of five kilogrammes each were futile. The leaders decided to keep the items at Bugango police station for distribution today morning.
Getrude Natukunda, a resident of Bugango in Kashumba Sub County said the situation has worsened to the extent that locals are cooking paw paws for meals. She says the distribution of food is yet to create an impact since the quantities are small.
Sadat Kashaki, another local from Mureme in Kashumba, says that although they are happy about the food donations, the situation is yet to change. He says that the local people have resorted to preparing watery porridge which they take for every other meal.
Kashaki says that the porridge is prepared in the morning hours and each of the family members gets a cup for each meal.
Former presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye revealed that it is unfortunate for the country which is treasured worldwide as the Pearl of Africa to be hit by a food crisis. He urged the locals in Isingiro to embrace environmentally friendly practices.
Major-General Mugisha Muntu said that the donation of food is from the party's meagre resources but expressed concern that the government has not done enough to help the suffering people.
Muntu revealed that Isingiro which is known for its mass production of Matooke to be in a serious food shortage is an indication of government failure to support the production sector.
In September and October, hundreds of families resorted to taking their animals to neighbouring Tanzania in search of pastures. Although the pastures are returning with the rains setting in, the banana plantations which are the main source of food are yet to regain.
