Yesterday, 16th October 2024, the Centre for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT) joined global celebrations for World Food Day by hosting a multi-stakeholder convening at its headquarters in Gayaza, Wakiso. The event brought together Civil Society Organisations, legislators, legal practitioners, scholars, nutritionists, and members of academia to discuss pressing food security and safety issues. In his opening remarks, Dr. David Kabanda, Executive Director of CEFROHT, raised alarm over the country’s food safety, warning that many processed and packaged foods and beverages contain toxic substances hazardous to human health.
Dr. Daniel R. Ruhweza, a senior lecturer and acting Head of the Department of Law and Jurisprudence at Makerere University School of Law, has called for the use of constitutional principles to promote Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling and the Nutrient Profiling Model as tools for healthier diets and the prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Speaking at a recent event, Dr. Ruhweza emphasized that the Ugandan Constitution obligates the State to uphold the right to life, which inherently includes the right to health, referencing provisions such as Objective 13 on the protection of natural resources and Objective 22 on food security.
Dr. Ruhweza highlighted the intersection of constitutionalism and public policy in addressing the country’s rising rates of NCDs, including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. He noted that these conditions are often linked to poor dietary choices, exacerbated by the absence of clear nutritional information on food products.
During his presentation, he defined Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) as a system designed to present simplified nutritional information on the front of food packages. The aim, he explained, is to help consumers make healthier choices at the point of purchase by offering easy-to-understand, at-a-glance details about a product’s nutritional content.
“FOPNL on pre-packaged foods and beverages can provide quick and easy-to-understand information for consumers, allowing them to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy food and drink options,” Dr. Ruhweza stated. He emphasized the importance of such systems in guiding consumers towards healthier dietary choices, particularly in the fight against rising rates of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Uganda.
In addition to discussing Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL), Dr. Daniel R. Ruhweza further elaborated on the Nutrient Profiling Model, providing clarity for the attendees. “Nutrient profiling refers to the scientific process of classifying or ranking foods based on their nutritional composition to encourage healthier dietary choices,” he explained.
He added that a nutrient profiling model evaluates food products by assessing both beneficial nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, and nutrients of public health concern, including saturated fats and added sugars. “Nutrient profiling models can vary in complexity and scope, depending on the region and their intended purpose,” Dr. Ruhweza noted, highlighting common models such as Nutrient-Based Models, Food Category-Based Models, Hybrid Models, and scoring systems.
Dr. Daniel R. Ruhweza concluded his presentation by addressing the critical role of Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) and Nutrient Profiling (NP) in enhancing public health in Uganda. He highlighted the growing problem of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the country and emphasized the urgent need for regulatory measures to combat this issue.
Dr. Ruhweza outlined the constitutional rights and obligations related to health and nutrition, advocating for the implementation of strategies that promote effective FOP labelling and nutrient profiling. He also discussed the challenges to implementation, including public awareness, regulatory enforcement, and the need for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the success of these initiatives.
Makerere University School of Law
Prof. Archileo N. Kaaya from the Department of Food Technology and Nutrition at Makerere University addressed the urgent issue of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) during the event, noting that these diseases claim 41 million lives annually, accounting for 74% of all deaths worldwide. He further revealed that each year, 17 million individuals die from NCDs before reaching the age of 70, with a staggering 86% of these premature deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
These alarming statistics, as of 16 September 2023, have been further exacerbated by the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive public health strategies to address this growing crisis.
Prof. Kaaya further emphasized the growing threat of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Uganda. He shared that, as of 2021, the age-standardized mortality rate for the four major NCDs—Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic Respiratory Diseases, Cancer, and Diabetes—was 709 per 100,000 in males and 506 per 100,000 in females. Additionally, NCDs accounted for 33% of total deaths in the country. He also highlighted that the probability of dying prematurely from one of these four NCDs for an average Ugandan citizen stands at 22%, underscoring the need for immediate public health interventions to address this major health problem.
He also elaborated the four major risk factors contributing to the rise of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Uganda: unhealthy diets, tobacco use (and drug abuse), physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol. These behaviors, he explained, lead to four significant metabolic and physiological changes—raised blood pressure, overweight/obesity, raised blood glucose, and elevated cholesterol levels—which are key drivers of NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer.
Prof. Archileo N. Kaaya also raised concerns about the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods in Uganda, which are often high in saturated fat, salt, and sugar. He explained that these foods not only displace more nutritious options in our diets, but their appealing taste and flavor can lead to overconsumption. Additionally, there are suggestions that the additives found in ultra-processed foods may contribute to negative health effects, including digestive issues like constipation and an increased risk of cancers, particularly colorectal cancer.
Citing data from Uganda’s 2023 Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Risk Factors STEPS Country Survey, Prof. Kaaya highlighted a worrying trend of lower fruit and vegetable consumption, which exacerbates the country’s NCD crisis.
Prof. concluded by notifying that the number of children and adults registered at the Uganda Cancer Institute has seen a dramatic increase, rising from 3,500 in 2015 to 7,400 in 2021. “Despite this surge in cases, the number of oncologists—specialized health personnel trained to treat cancer—remains critically low, which shortage has created a significant gap in care, with 75% of children diagnosed with cancer unable to access the treatment they need.” He said.
