Sixteen people died of hunger in Uganda’s Karamoja region.
Farmers lost their maize, sorghum and soybeans after rains failed to arrive this planting season.
Officials confirm the deaths took place in recent weeks.
The government now distributes emergency food to thousands of affected families.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja says her office will ask the cabinet on Monday to approve more supplies.
Farmers in the north-east planted crops in April but saw them wither.
The area faces repeated food shortages. Experts point to changing weather patterns along with tree loss and livestock pressure on the land.
Aid workers call for better rain forecasts and irrigation systems to protect future harvests.
In 2022 the same region saw more than 2,200 starvation deaths.
Authorities hope quick action this time limits further losses.
