By Fidel Boy Leon
They say, “A mother’s milk never runs dry before the child stops feeding”, and this isn’t merely a saying, but rather a testament to nature’s boundless provision.
In Uganda, that truth is more than just words; it’s reflected in the nation’s global leadership in breastfeeding, where mothers continue to give their children the strongest start possible.
This World Breastfeeding Week (August 1–7), Uganda’s Ministry of Health, in partnership with organisations like WHO and UNICEF, joins the global community in commemorating the event.
Under the theme “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” the goal, like many, is to ensure that every mother and baby has the support from their healthcare, family, and community to sustain this life-giving connection.
Breastfeeding in Uganda has deep roots in both tradition and public health policy. Mothers have historically relied on generational knowledge to nourish infants, often practising exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.
However, with urbanisation and the introduction of formula and changing lifestyles such as women being afraid of their breasts dropping after breastfeeding and many mothers returning to work soon after childbirth, these practices have been gradually challenged, particularly in cities.
Governments and health organisations have long sought to protect and promote breastfeeding. Initiatives like the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), introduced in the early 2000s, trained health workers to support mothers in initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of birth.
Over the years, nationwide awareness campaigns, community health programs, and training for midwives and village health teams have reinforced these efforts.
The combined impact of these historical interventions is evident today in Uganda’s high rates of exclusive breastfeeding, demonstrating how sustained public health investment, community engagement, and cultural reinforcement can produce measurable results in maternal and child health.
Research shows that breastfeeding nourishes both body and mind. It strengthens immunity, supports healthy brain development, and fosters emotional security between mother and child.
Breastfeeding also boosts long-term educational and economic outcomes, making it not just a health choice but an investment in human potential and national growth.
The Uganda Demographic and Health Survey 2022 confirms the country’s strong performance:
• 94% of infants aged 0–6 months are exclusively breastfed.
• 96% of children have been breastfed at some point.
• 82% are put to the breast within one hour of birth.
• 86% have skin-to-skin contact with the mother in that first vital hour.
Even with current successes, there is a clear path forward. The next phase of work is to ensure a better working system by sustaining and improving these rates. This requires a multi-faceted approach: we must support vulnerable mothers, enforce the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, and scale up breast milk banks for premature and low-birth-weight babies.
The ultimate goal is to ensure all women have access to the counselling, information, and reassurance they need to thrive on their breastfeeding journey.
A shared commitment is key. The Ministry of Health, WHO, and UNICEF are calling on a wide range of partners, from the private sector to cultural and religious leaders, to actively support breastfeeding.
Their goals are to advocate for maternity protection, build healthcare capacity, and mobilise communities to celebrate and sustain these vital practices. These organisations have also pledged to continue their collaboration, strengthening systems, so every mother is empowered to give her child the best start in life.
Uganda’s success in breastfeeding shows the power of aligning policy, health services, and community culture. And as the proverb reminds us, nature provides what the child needs, but it is up to society to make sure that provision is protected, encouraged, and sustained.
By embracing and empowering mothers, Uganda is not just feeding children, it is nourishing the future.