Child malnutrition rises sharply in Uganda as El Nino-linked dry spells take their toll

The number of acutely malnourished children in the Karamoja region of northeastern Uganda is expected to rise by 25% by October 2026 with El Niño-related dry spells significantly impacting children’s health, Save the Children said. New figures from global hunger monitor, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), shows the number of children suffering from acute malnutrition has risen from 122,100 to 154,200 since a previous assessment in June, This means 32,100 additional children now require malnutrition support. This includes an estimated 38,800 children suffering or expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, the worst form of malnutrition which requires urgent medical attention. The figures show general food insecurity in Uganda's Karamoja region, which is home to about 1.6 million people, has worsened dramatically in just a few months, with the numbers facing crisis or emergency situations rising by more than 40%. The number of people facing emergency food insecurity conditions has nearly tripled with households exhausting resources, skipping multiple meals, or running out of food entirely Drought-prone parts of Uganda and East Africa are feeling the effe