Kampala – Policymakers, researchers, farmers, and other stakeholders in Uganda’s agriculture sector have been urged to work together to promote food security, proper nutrition, and safe food handling to improve the health and livelihoods of Ugandans.
The call was made during a stakeholders’ engagement on nutrition-sensitive agriculture organized by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) on Tuesday in Kampala.
Speaking at the event, Otuke District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Suzan Abeja, said the country’s food safety and nutrition challenges can only be addressed through a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach.
“More than half of Ugandan households depend on agriculture, with farmers being our unsung heroes. They wake up early every day and work under difficult conditions to produce food that not only feeds the nation but also contributes significantly to Uganda’s economy,” Abeja said.
She noted that despite Uganda’s vast agricultural potential, many households continue to face food insecurity, poor nutrition, and food contamination, particularly from aflatoxins.
According to Abeja, many Ugandans consume food merely to satisfy hunger instead of focusing on its nutritional value.
“No single individual, institution, or sector can overcome these challenges alone. Farmers need access to technology, quality seed, and extension services, while health workers rely on the availability of safe and nutritious food to fight malnutrition,” she said.
She urged every stakeholder in the food value chain—including farmers, traders, processors, and transporters—to ensure that food is not only available but also safe and nutritious.
Meanwhile, Jackline Namusalizi, Technical Coordinator for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture at the Sasakawa Africa Association, said the engagement aimed at bringing together key stakeholders to identify practical solutions for improving the nutritional value of agricultural produce.
“We have made significant progress in increasing crop yields, but we have not paid enough attention to the nutritional component of agriculture. We cannot achieve this alone, which is why partnerships are essential,” Namusalizi said.
She revealed that SAA has established nutrition model homes in different parts of the country where households receive practical training on proper nutrition, food preservation, and safe post-harvest handling.
Namusalizi identified poor post-harvest handling as one of the leading causes of aflatoxin contamination and said the organization is intensifying awareness campaigns on preventing contamination from production through storage and consumption.
She reaffirmed Sasakawa Africa Association’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and other government agencies to promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food safety.
A Researcher from the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) also showcased several agricultural innovations aimed at improving nutrition and food security.
Moses Matovu, a researcher at NARO, said the institution has developed improved crop varieties rich in essential nutrients, including iron-rich and zinc-rich beans, Pro-vitamin A sweet potatoes, and Pro-vitamin A maize.
“In Uganda, we may not necessarily lack food, but much of what we consume is dominated by carbohydrates. We need to diversify our diets with more nutritious foods,” Matovu said.
He also highlighted the development of black rice under NARO’s cereals programme at the National Crops Resources Research Institute in collaboration with the Japanese Government.
According to Matovu, black rice is rich in antioxidants, possesses anti-aging properties, and may help protect the body against diseases such as cancer.
“This is not the ordinary rice people are used to. It is black in colour and highly nutritious. A small serving provides significant nutritional value. If we embrace these innovations without focusing on colour, we can live healthier lives and reduce dependence on medication,” he explained.
On food safety, Matovu noted that aflatoxin contamination remains one of the biggest obstacles to Uganda’s grain exports.
He revealed that the government, through increased investment in agricultural research and innovation, has developed a Ugandan strain of Aflasafe to combat aflatoxins in cereals.
“If all goes according to plan, government will soon begin distributing Aflasafe to farmers. This locally developed technology will significantly reduce aflatoxin contamination, improve grain quality, boost cereal exports, increase farmers’ incomes, and generate more revenue for the country,” Matovu said.
