Following his visit to the two districts, Security Minister Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde has secured relief food for starving communities in the two districts.
At least 2,200bags of relief food will be delivered to Kanungu elderly, Children and vulnerable families.
This comes just days after Gen Tumukunde’s visit to both Kanungu and Rukungiri districts.
Last month, media reports indicated that residents of Kihiihi Sub County in Kanungu District had started feeding on spear grass, locally known as “emishojwa” following severe lack of food in the area.
This prompted Gen Tumukunde to rush to the affected areas to assess the situation. Sources close to Gen Tumukunde say that the retired soldier was touched when he heard about the plight of the starving people in the areas.
Famine and poverty also go hand in hand with desperate actions such as conflict among families and theft, explaining why the security boss rushed to rescue the communities.
According to local authorities, Kihihi the famine that hit Kihiihi was as a result of a prolonged dry spell that spanned the last two seasons, leading to crop failure.
Previously, other individuals including Chairman LC3 Kihihi and Dixon Kagurusi former Kinkizi West NRM aspirant in partnership with rotary Kihihi had also lobbied for the same food relief.
Sources say that Gen Tumukunde’s visit to Kanungu gave the government a different perspective and as such the food will be distributed under the auspices of the Office of the Prime Minister.
