Stakeholders push for agroecology in Uganda’s new food policy

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Civil society organisations (CSOs) have urged the government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), to address rising child malnutrition in Uganda to integrate agroecology into the new national food policy.

The government is currently reviewing the 2003 Food and Nutrition Policy to tackle emerging food safety concerns driven by shifting consumption patterns, changing nutrition trends, and increasing urbanisation.

Josephine Akia Luyimbazi, country coordinator of Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM), highlighted Uganda’s potential to ensure access to healthy and safe food for all while also protecting the environment.

Luyimbazi noted: "Agroecology emphasises circularity. For example, in Kampala markets such as Nakasero, Kalerwe, and Busega, reducing food waste can make a significant difference.”

She posed a critical question: "How can Uganda's food and nutrition policy incorporate circular economy elements to reduce waste and ensure timely access to processed food for areas like Karamoja?"

Josephine Akia Luyimbazi, PELUM Country Coordinator addressing participants during a consultative meeting about the National food policy review at Fairway Hotel on April 14, 2025. (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)

Luyimbazi urged MAAIF to develop policy frameworks that promote equitable food distribution and nationwide access, while also recognising the cultural and identity-shaping role of food.

She made these remarks during a consultative meeting on the review of Uganda’s National Food Policy held at Fairway Hotel in Kampala on April 14, 2025.

The meeting attracted smallholder farmers, pastoralists, civil society actors, researchers, indigenous knowledge holders, food systems advocates, and others.

As experts reviewed the national food policy, Luyimbazi raised key questions: Whose food systems are we promoting? Whose voices are shaping the policy direction? Are we safeguarding our indigenous crops, traditional foods, agroecological knowledge, and the rights of small-scale producers?



According to Luyimbazi, a people-led food system requires a policy framework that upholds agroecology, local food diversity, farmer rights, and ecological balance. She emphasised that policy transformation begins with bold, clear, and united voices.

She stated: "The review of the National Food Policy is an opportunity to shift our food systems toward one that serves our people, our planet, and future generations."

Dr Joseph Ssekandi, a senior lecturer at Uganda Martyrs University, noted that although the previous policy met its targets, it lacked proper implementation.

While reviewing the policy, Ssekandi said: "MAAIF should target farmers, but also focus on areas where they have a competitive advantage. Instead of importing fertilisers from Russia, we should work with green systems to build soil diversity through composting, mulching, and proper terracing. This approach will help us produce more consumable food."

Dr Million Belay, general coordinator of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa, stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement, knowledge mobilisation, and advocacy in the review process, especially given the shifts in nutrition trends.

Alex Bambona, assistant commissioner for food and nutrition security at MAAIF, said the new policy will address undernutrition, climate change adaptation and mitigation, among other issues.

"Climate change affects us all, with unpredictable rainfall patterns, floods, dry spells, and increased pest and disease outbreaks. The population has grown significantly since the policy was developed twenty years ago, leading to shifts in consumption patterns and the food economy," Bambona explained.

Irene Odongtho, principal analyst at MAAIF, said the policy is being reviewed with a holistic lens.

Odongtho noted: “We are assessing its effectiveness over the years and exploring ways to make it more relevant.”

She added, "Good regulatory practice requires periodic policy reviews. After ten years, significant changes occur, making it natural to review and update policies."