UGANDA’S PARADOX OF ABUNDANCE OF FOOD BUT POOR NUTRITION

Last week, as Uganda joined the world in commemorating World Food Day, we had the privilege of amplifying the message of micronutrient nutrition for our client, Unilever Uganda’s Royco brand.

This year’s theme, “Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future,” aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 2: “Zero Hunger.” It’s sobering to note that in 2022, 735 million people (9.2% of the global population) faced chronic hunger, and 2.4 billion faced moderate food insecurity as they were unable to access a balanced diet due to resource constraints.

In Uganda, we are fortunate to have an abundance of food. However, many of us fall into the “moderate food insecurity” category due to challenges in accessing nutritious food, contributing to the rise of non-communicable diseases. Hunger and malnutrition not only impact individual productivity but also perpetuate cycles of poverty and poor health.

To mark the day, Unilever hosted a community event at Kira Health Centre IV, offering anaemia screenings, nutritional assessments, and dietary advice. Attendees learned the importance of iron-rich and fortified foods. There were cooking demonstrations with Royco Cubes, which are fortified with iron and iodine, offering an affordable, flavourful solution to bridging micronutrient gaps.

The event also coincided with an immunization day, hence giving us the opportunity to reach many recent mothers with valuable nutrition information on raising healthier children. For me, it is  always fulfilling when business intersects with sustainability—making a tangible difference in people’s lives now, and in the future.

Henry H. Ssali is a Marketing Communication Consultant