According to Namachekecha, the area has been hit by hunger since farmers did not harvest enough food due floods that swept away crops during the last growing season.

He said in all the three ADMARC markets of Mpinda, Nambazo and Namba have been without maize for some months now.

"Vendors are taking advantage of the scarcity of the staple grain in ADMARC markets to sell it at an exorbitant price and this is the reason why we are asking authorities to swiftly intervene on the situation," said Namachekecha.

ADMARC officials are yet to comment on the matter.

Department of Disaster and Management Affairs spokesperson, Chipiliro Khamula, recently said that the department distributed relief food on a once- off relief maize distribution program to the affected households.