Most people in the Eastern region survive based on subsistence farming.  Unemployment is approximately 95% and the average income for community families is estimated to be less than $0.5 day—many have no source of income.  Statistics provided by the Regional Economic Committee indicate that:

• 80% of the people have no source of income and “little or no food and live hand-to-mouth”,
• 16% have some means of income and/or have gardens and have enough to eat without any excess, and
• 4% have marketable skills or a business and have more than enough to eat.

This semi-arid region normally has two heavy rainfalls per year. Followed by a drought lasting two to four months.  Over the past several years, this cycle of flooding rains and devastating droughts has increased in severity often causing crop failures.  Farmers prepare their fields during the drought and wait for the rains.  When the rains start, they quickly plant their crops and then hope that the rainfall isn’t so hard that it washes the soil off the seeds causing crop failure.  If the crops survive the rain, the farmers pray that there will be enough moisture in the soil during the ensuing drought for there to be a harvest.  Often times, the yield is very low or non-existent.  Starvation follows. MHM is at dedicated to combating hunger often with a focus on providing food to vulnerable populations especially the children and elderly group in the communities we serve. We feed 700 children weekly both in Mayuge and Namayingo districts, distribute food and other necessities to 8 elderly families