Uganda's Nutrition Paradox: Food Basket Regions Grapple With Rising Malnutrition

Despite being the nation's agricultural powerhouses, the Tooro and Kigezi regions are confronting a silent crisis—alarming rates of child stunting and malnutrition that now surpass the national average. Recent data reveals a troubling contradiction: while these fertile highlands produce surplus food, childhood stunting affects 38% of children compared to Uganda's 26% national average.  

Agricultural Abundance vs Household Nutrition  
 Farmers prioritise cash crops over diverse food crops, with men often controlling and selling harvests.  
Cultural practices restrict children's access to protein-rich foods like eggs and milk. 45% of households in food basket regions experience seasonal hunger (UNICEF 2023 survey)  

Undernutrition: 1 in 3 children stunted in Kigezi, Overnutrition: 18% obesity rate among women in Tooro (MoH 2024), Rising NCDs linked to processed food dependence in formerly subsistence communities  

Dr. Samalie Namukose (MoH Nutrition Commissioner) outlined emergency measures:  
Powdered Egg Distribution: Piloted in Kamwenge, expanding to Kasese, School Nutrition Program: Free iron/folic acid for adolescent girls, National Deworming: Targeting 5 million children biannually  

Male-dominated food allocation in households, Limited nutrition education despite food abundance, and Climate shocks disrupting traditional diets