UAE to provide 1.76 million meals to vulnerable Ugandans
As Uganda strives to achieve zero hunger by 2030, Bagenda stated that “this campaign will distribute 5,100 boxes of food, starting with an initial batch of 2,550 boxes.
Jessica Bagenda, Haba Na Haba food bank Uganda CEO addressing participants as Eng Mohammed Shaban Bukenya (centre), UAE Embassy in Kampala – Bujumbura chief of protocol and Translation and Alex Mukisa (right), UAE Embassy official look on during the launch of the one billion meals initiative at St James Bbina Catholic Parish in Mutungo on 28th October 2025. (Photos by Juliet Kasirye)
________________
Despite Uganda being a food basket, many vulnerable communities in long dry spell-stricken areas struggle to put food on the table.
To bring hope and sustenance to Ugandans in dire need, Haba Na Haba food bank Uganda with support from Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global initiative, has launched the one billion meals campaign.
This large-scale humanitarian effort aims to provide over 1.76 million meals to vulnerable individuals and families across Uganda.
The chief executive officer of Haba Na Haba food bank Uganda, Jessica Bagenda, says: In Uganda, where communities are rich in resilience and spirit, the challenges of food insecurity persist from drought-affected regions to vulnerable urban families.
Mutebi Bogere, the Growth Networks Uganda executive director during an interview about the distribution of food at St James Bbina Catholic Parish in Mutungo on 28th October 2025. 
Since most Ugandans sleep on an empty stomachs, Bagenda, highlighted that hunger is not only the absence of food; it is the absence of opportunity, dignity and hope. Adding that, no child should sleep hungry, no family should feel forgotten, and no nation should be left behind.
She made the remarks during the launch of the one billion meals initiative held at St James Bbina Catholic Parish in Mutungo on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
During the flagship of the first consignment, Bagenda explained that the one billion meals campaign is part of a broader regional initiative supported by His Highness Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, whose vision continues to inspire global humanitarian action and food security programmes in the Middle East and Africa.
Through this partnership, Haba Na Haba will lead the local implementation of the campaign, coordinating food recovery and distribution to reach the most vulnerable communities, including orphanages, persons with disabilities, refugees and low-income households struggling with the rising cost of living.
“Every plate served is an investment in somebody’s hope, health and human potential,” Bagenda added.
This partnership embodies their shared belief that no child should sleep hungry, no family should feel forgotten, and no nation should be left behind.
As Uganda strives to achieve zero hunger by 2030, Bagenda stated that “this campaign will distribute 5,100 boxes of food, starting with an initial batch of 2,550 boxes. The consignment worth $142,000 will benefit vulnerable communities in the districts of Kampala, Iganga, Wakiso and Budaka, and each household will receive a box of food that can sustain them for a month.”
According to the 2024 Global Hunger Index, nearly 40% of Ugandans were undernourished as of January 2017, with 10.9 million people facing acute food insecurity.
The chief of protocol and Translation at UAE Embassy in Kampala and Bujumbura, Eng Mohammed Shaban Bukenya, hailed Haba Na Haba Food Bank Uganda for the excellent work and distribution of food to vulnerable groups.
“We had a humble beginning with them. We began with 200 million meals. Today, we have reached one billion meals. We hope that with time to come, we shall go beyond the billion meals. I thank the Ugandan government for the support to ease our work in Uganda. This is because the bilateral relations between the two countries is strong,” Bukenya said.
During the handover of the first consignment, the executive director of Growth Networks Uganda, Mutebi Bogere commended Maktoum and other development partners, such as Egyptian Food Bank for reaching out to the needy communities.
Bogere disclosed: “Our community members are in dire need. In places such as Ndikutamanda in Makindye Ssabagambo, many people go to bed hungry. We have so many single mothers struggling to make ends meet by washing people’s clothes to survive. Most single mothers I have seen who have more than four children have nothing to eat.”
To support these families, Bogere said, they have been collecting food from different markets and distributing it to those in need.
“While this is not the first time we have received such support, the donation will go a long way in supplementing our efforts and providing relief to these most vulnerable families. We are going to distribute these boxes of food to the rehabilitation Centre for sex workers, Mary Kevins school, which has over 800 students, and to the community within Masajja and Ndikutamanda.” Bogere concluded.