The Ministry of Health has unveiled plans to implement a standardized school feeding program across Uganda, positioning it as a critical intervention against the rising tide of malnutrition and diet-related diseases among children.
The announcement was made during a press briefing at the ministry’s headquarters in Kampala, ahead of the Fourth Annual Nutrition Symposium, which opened on Tuesday, June 17, at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
The three-day event brings together policymakers, scientists, and nutrition stakeholders to craft sustainable strategies for improving the nation’s nutritional landscape.
Samalie Namukose, Commissioner for Nutrition at the Ministry of Health, revealed that a national meal plan has already been drafted. However, its implementation is still under review, with consultations ongoing among stakeholders before it is submitted to the Cabinet for formal approval.
“We have a plan in place, but we’re still engaging stakeholders. Once approved, all schools will adopt a standardized meal plan,” Namukose said.
She emphasized the Ministry’s collaboration with the Ministry of Education, UNICEF, scientists, and other partners to ensure the feeding model is scientifically sound and locally applicable.
Namukose also raised concerns about the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among children—including obesity and diabetes—linked to poor diets. She stressed that inadequate nutrition affects not only physical health but also cognitive performance.
“Poor nutrition leads to both health issues and academic underperformance. This program aims to address both challenges simultaneously,” she noted.
The school feeding initiative is being introduced in response to what experts describe as the “double burden of malnutrition”—the coexistence of undernutrition and obesity within the same communities and households.
Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze, Director of Public Health at the Ministry, presented alarming figures from the 2022 Uganda Demographic Health Survey.
“Twenty-six percent of children under five are stunted. That’s one in every four children suffering from chronic undernutrition,” he said.
He also reported that 2.9% of children are wasted—suffering from acute malnutrition so severe that their bones are visible. Additionally, widespread micronutrient deficiencies and anemia among women of reproductive age continue to threaten maternal and child health.
“Micronutrients are essential for blood production in pregnant women and for building children’s immunity,” Kyabayinze explained.
Dr. George Upenytho, Commissioner for Community Health, questioned the persistence of malnutrition in a country blessed with agricultural abundance.
“It’s unacceptable that a country rich in food resources continues to face widespread malnutrition,” he said.
Upenytho clarified that while agriculture ensures food availability, the Ministry of Health is focused on the nutritional quality of what people actually eat.
“Our concern lies at the point where people fail to consume balanced diets. That’s where malnutrition begins—and where our intervention is most needed,” he added.
This year’s Nutrition Symposium serves as a national platform for tackling Uganda’s nutritional challenges through science, data, and policy innovation. It features presentations from researchers, clinicians, and public health professionals offering evidence-based solutions.
Under the theme “Strategic, Sustainable, and Resilient Investments in Nutrition,” the symposium highlights the economic and societal value of improved nutrition.
Kyabayinze emphasized that malnutrition is not just a health issue—it’s a fundamental barrier to national development.
“It undermines learning, reduces labor productivity, and imposes long-term economic costs on the country,” he said.
While Uganda has made strides in reducing poverty and boosting agriculture, malnutrition remains a major obstacle to economic progress. Kyabayinze noted that climate change, population growth, and inequality further exacerbate the issue.
Once approved by Cabinet, the school feeding policy will require all schools to provide at least one balanced meal per child per day. Experts believe this move will help reduce stunting, improve school attendance and performance, and prevent early-onset NCDs.
The Ministry underscored that while scientific evidence and policies are essential, real change will depend on community involvement, local ownership, and sustained investment.
“We need strategic and resilient investments in nutrition—not just for better health outcomes, but for Uganda’s future prosperity,” Kyabayinze concluded