Uganda

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Uganda
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Food Security Outlook
October 2023 - May 2024
Crisis (IPC Phase 3) expected in Karamoja and among refugees through May 2024
  • In bimodal areas, the second season rains were generally on-time and have been cumulatively average to above average in most areas through October. Cropping conditions are generally favorable, with most cereals and legumes at reproductive stages. Crop production is expected to be average and on time, and rangeland resources in the cattle corridor have seen considerable improvements with the ongoing second season rains. However, flood-prone areas in parts of the West Nile region and Pakwach districts are inundated with flood waters following heavy rains in late October, causing displacement and minor destruction to infrastructure. The number of households facing Stressed (IPC Phase 2) or worse outcomes in the northern and eastern regions is expected to decrease in October, and area-level Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes are expected with the onset of the harvest in November/December.  
  • In Karamoja, the compounding impacts of four/five consecutive below-average harvests due to poor and erratic rainfall, insecurity, and reduced household resilience will likely sustain Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes through May 2024. The 2023 harvest is anticipated to exhaust as early as December, causing an early onset of the 2024 lean season. While staple prices are expected to decrease with the bimodal harvest in December, household purchasing power remains below average due to the loss of livestock assets and below-average income generation from crop sales and off-farm labor opportunities. Poor households will likely have limited access to food and depleted coping capacity. The proportion of households facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) is expected to steadily increase between January and May 2024. 
  • Retail prices of staple foods were mostly stable between August and September, supported by the carryover of first-season food stocks, imported grain from Tanzania, and the decrease in regional demand following the maize harvest in western Kenya. While maize prices in bimodal markets are generally lower than in 2022 – by 20 to 30 percent in some areas – prices remain 7 to 18 percent above the five-year average. In Karamoja markets, sorghum prices showed similar trends, ranging from 24 to 54 percent lower than in 2022 but above the five-year average. The lower food prices relative to last year have improved financial access to food for many poor households, particularly in urban areas.
  • Significantly below-average first season harvests for refugees in settlements – particularly in the north – limited seasonal improvements in access to food during the post-harvest period and resulted in atypically high purchase reliance for food. However, increased competition for few alternative income-generating opportunities and low wages limit household purchasing power. The impacts of this are compounded by the recent implementation of the needs-based re-prioritization of food assistance in July. Now, roughly 80 percent of the refugees in settlements receive rations equivalent to only 30 percent of their minimum daily caloric needs. Findings from a recent FEWS NET assessment indicated that refugee households are increasingly relying on negative livelihood coping strategies to decrease expenditure and increase access to food, such as removing children from school, stealing food, early childhood marriage, or begging for food. Many refugees also reported reducing meal portions and limiting meal frequency to once per day. An increasing number of households will likely face food consumption gaps and Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes through May 2024.
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View All Uganda Analysis
Food Security
Key Message Update Worsening food insecurity and Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes among refugees in settlements Uganda September 2023
Food Security Outlook Update Food insecurity remains high following below-average harvest in northern Uganda Uganda August 2023
Key Message Update Delayed harvest in Karamoja prolongs lean season, sustaining Crisis (IPC Phase 3) Uganda July 2023
Agroclimatology
Global Weather Hazards Flooding spreads into southeastern Africa, while parts of southern Africa remain abnormally dry Global February 17, 2023 - February 23, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Markets & Trade
Cross Border Trade Report East Africa Cross Border Trade East Africa October 2023
Price Bulletin Uganda Price Bulletin Uganda October 2023
Price Bulletin Uganda Price Bulletin Uganda September 2023
Alerts / Special Reports
No reports available.
Food Security
Key Message Update Worsening food insecurity and Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes among refugees in settlements Uganda September 2023
Food Security Outlook Update Food insecurity remains high following below-average harvest in northern Uganda Uganda August 2023
Key Message Update Delayed harvest in Karamoja prolongs lean season, sustaining Crisis (IPC Phase 3) Uganda July 2023
Agroclimatology
Global Weather Hazards Flooding spreads into southeastern Africa, while parts of southern Africa remain abnormally dry Global February 17, 2023 - February 23, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Markets & Trade
Cross Border Trade Report East Africa Cross Border Trade East Africa October 2023
Price Bulletin Uganda Price Bulletin Uganda October 2023
Price Bulletin Uganda Price Bulletin Uganda September 2023
Alerts / Special Reports
No reports available.
Food Security Classification Data View all Uganda classification data
Uganda Acute Food Insecurity Classification (October 2023 - May 2024)

Current (October 2023) food security outcomes and forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (October 2023 - January 2024) and medium term (February 2024 - May 2024) periods.

Uganda Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile October 2023 (.zip) (ZIP) Uganda Acute Food Insecurity Classification October 2023 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Current Situation: October 2023 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.png) (PNG) Current Situation: October 2023 (.kml) (KML) Near Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.kml) (KML) Uganda Acute Food Insecurity Classification (September 2023 - January 2024)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (September 2023) and medium term (October 2023 - January 2024) periods.

Uganda Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile September 2023 (.zip) (ZIP) Uganda Acute Food Insecurity Classification September 2023 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: September 2023 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: September 2023 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.kml) (KML) Uganda Acute Food Insecurity Classification (August 2023 - January 2024)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (August 2023 - September 2023) and medium term (October 2023 - January 2024) periods.

Uganda Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile August 2023 (.zip) (ZIP) Uganda Acute Food Insecurity Classification August 2023 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: August 2023 - September 2023 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: August 2023 - September 2023 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.kml) (KML)
Seasonal Calendar Seasonal Calendar

The Seasonal Calendar shows the annual and cyclical patterns of key food and income sources in a country throughout the typical year.
Uganda Seasonal Calendar
Production and Trade Flow Maps Production and Trade Flow Maps
FEWS NET captures the market networks for a product in a given country or region, including their catchments and trade flow patterns.
Sorghum, Normal Year Cattle, Normal Year Millet, Normal Year Beans, Normal Year Cassava, Normal Year Banana, Normal Year Maize, Normal Year Maize, Season 1 Maize, Season 2 Banana, Normal Year Beans, Season 1 Beans, Season 2
Remote Sensing Imagery Remote Sensing Imagery

USGS-provided data and imagery supports FEWS NET's monitoring efforts of weather and climate throughout the world.

View all remote sensing imagery
Livelihood Zone Resources Livelihood Zone Resources
Karamoja Livelihood Zone Descriptions, December 2013 Uganda Livelihoods Zones Descriptions, January 2010 Uganda Livelihood Zone Map
Uganda 2013 Livelihood Zones Map (.PNG)
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