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Poisonous WFP food case sent for mediation
Napak LCV chairperson, Mr Joseph Lomonyang inspects boxes of the remaining porridge flour which WFP had distributed to breastfeeding mothers at Lotome health centre III where they were stored on march 16, 2019
What you need to know:
- World Food Programme has been supplying food to Karamoja Sub-region over the last 50 years.
- Following the distribution of the said super cereals to the locals by WFP, more than 100 residents fell sick and two deaths were reported.
- The officials of WFP acted quickly and halted the supply of the said food to investigate what the cause was.
The case, in which a couple in Karamoja Sub-region sued Amudat District and the Attorney General (AG) over poisonous cereal foods from World Food Programme (WFP), has been set for mediation.
Ms Grace Chepnyorio, Mr Isaac Kolimuk and representatives of WFP and AG, met on Tuesday before Justice David Batema who forwarded it for mediation.
Mediation is mandatory in civil cases in the Judiciary. It is only when the out of court talks fail that the matter is set for hearing before a judge/magistrate.
The mechanism is intended to tackle case backlog in most courts of law.
The parties agreed to hold the mediation process on September 10 and will report back to court on November 28.
Violation of rights
The couple together with a civil society organisation, Centre for Food and Adequate Living Rights, in their compliant, contend that there was failure by government and Amudat District Local Government, to ensure that the super cereal food was safe for them and their family.
They say this was a violation of their right to adequate food, nutrition and health contrary to the Constitution.
The duo says several other residents developed symptoms of madness and fever before being admitted to hospital.
The couple through their lawyers of Dalumba Advocates and Kwesigabo, Bamwine & Walubiri Advocates, want court to compel government to compensate them for damages.
They also want court to order government to establish a reasonable national food reserve within two years.
Ms Chepnyorio received the food from Alakas Health Centre II in Kakadama Village, Amudat District in March.
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