Ministry of health launches “Nutrition for All” campaign as leaders cite stark malnutrition statistics

14 April 2026, 5:28 pm

By Byamukama Alozious

Uganda has intensified its fight against malnutrition with the launch of the “Nutrition for All” campaign, as government officials and development partners raise concern over the scale of the crisis affecting children across the country.

Data from the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (2022) shows a troubling “triple burden” of malnutrition. About 26% of children under 5 more than 2 million are chronically malnourished (stunted), while 3% (around 230,000 children) are wasted and in urgent need of treatment. At the same time, 3% (230,000 children) are overweight, and 3% of children aged 5–19 are overweight or obese. In addition, many children suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, lacking essential vitamins and minerals such as iron, iodine, zinc, and vitamin A conditions linked to limited access to diverse and nutritious diets, often described as child food poverty.

Speaking at the launch, Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, Prof. Dr.Charles Olaro, emphasized the urgency of prioritizing child nutrition as a national development issue.

“For the future of the nation, we have to take part in the nutrition of the children,” he said.

He warned that malnutrition continues to drive disease burden across the population. “Malnutrition contributes to common illnesses and severe diseases like pneumonia, accounting for up to 64% in children and 32% in women.”

Dr. Olaro also stressed the importance of dietary diversity in households. “You can have a whole plate of food every day, but it is about diversity what kind of food,” he said. “We want to see different types of food on the plate to ensure proper nutrition.”

Zakaria Fusheini, Chief of Nutrition at UNICEF Uganda, said malnutrition persists even in regions considered food baskets due to poor feeding practices and limited diet diversity.

“Some regions like Toro are food baskets of the country, yet they continue to register high malnutrition rates,” he said.

“Some children are fed mainly on matooke, and the body lacks other essential nutrients needed for proper growth,” he added.

He emphasized that the crisis goes beyond health. “Malnutrition is a social, economic and political issue that requires all stakeholders to come together.”

Karamoja, Toro, and refugee-hosting districts remain the most affected due to chronic food insecurity and recurrent infections.

Dr. Upenytho George Dugumm, Commissioner for Community Health at the Ministry of Health, called for stronger action at the grassroots level.

“The statistics represent real children who are suffering,” he said. “The fight against malnutrition must go to the communities, and people must be empowered.”

Assistant Commissioner Sarah Namukose underscored the scale of the challenge, noting that malnutrition remains widespread.

“Malnutrition is still a big public health concern,” she said. “About 4% of children under five are wasted, and the major drivers include poverty, limited access to quality health services, and poor feeding practices.”

Experts at the launch noted that malnutrition in all its forms is driven by multiple factors, including poor diets and feeding practices, rising food prices and inequalities, climate shocks, aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods, and limited awareness especially during the critical first 1,000 days of a child’s life.

They also pointed to persistent system gaps, including limited financing, weak coordination mechanisms, insufficient monitoring systems, inadequate human resources for nutrition, and missed opportunities to mobilize global nutrition financing factors that have slowed progress despite existing government commitments.

Policymakers and partners were called upon to prioritize nutrition across all sectors, strengthen food systems, increase domestic and global financing, and improve collaboration. Experts emphasized that every investment in nutrition can yield up to 16 times returns in health, education, and productivity.

Stakeholders said that malnutrition is preventable. Ensuring access to nutritious food, clean water, quality healthcare, sanitation, and hygiene services can protect every child.

The “Nutrition for All” campaign now aims to mobilize nationwide action, with a clear goal: no child in Uganda should suffer from malnutrition.