Acute malnutrition  has worsened across Karamoja since April 2026, driven by El Niño‑related shocks and deteriorating acute food insecurity, compounded by poor WASH conditions and high prevalence of diarrheal and respiratory diseases.  

More than 154,200 children aged 6–59 months and 13,900 pregnant and breastfeeding women are suffering from or expected to suffer from acute malnutrition between August 2026 and February 2027. During the current period, Kotido and Kaabong districts  are classified in IPC Phase 4 (Critical) and four districts—Amudat, Moroto, Nabilatuk and Nakapiripirit—are classified in IPC Phase 3 (Serious). In the projection period of November 2026 to February 2027, further deterioration in acute malnutrition is expected due to worsening food insecurity. 

While Humanitarian Food Security Assistance has helped mitigate short-term food access constraints, it remains far below needs and the impact on malnutrition will take longer to materialise. 

• Expand access to safe water by rehabilitating boreholes, valley tanks, dams and irrigation facilities, increasing latrine coverage and promoting handwashing, to improve water for drinking, sanitation, livestock and production and to reduce the risk of waterborne disease. 
• Scale up screening, referral and treatment of acute malnutrition at community and facility level, prioritising Kaabong and Kotido, and preposition therapeutic and supplementary supplies before the El Niño rains restrict access to hard-to-reach communities.  
• Improve the diets of children and mothers through supplementary feeding for children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding women in the worst-affected districts, alongside community counselling to improve meal frequency, dietary diversity and breastfeeding practices. 
• Strengthen disease surveillance and case management for malaria, diarrhoea, measles and other childhood illnesses ahead of the El Niño rains, and improve targeting and coordination across food security, nutrition and health responses through updated beneficiary data, district-level coordination and last-mile delivery capacity.