Reimagining Uganda’s Food Systems: CEFROHT Marks World Food Day with Community Voices and people lived experiences

In commemoration of this year’s World Food Day, the Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT) convened two Twitter (X) Space discussions that brought together farmers, youth innovators, policymakers, and community advocates to reimagine Uganda’s food systems.

The discussions were held under the theme “Agroecology in Action: Learning, Innovation, and Wealth Creation for Youth and Communities.” This conversation showcased agroecology as a practical and transformative farming approach that is restoring livelihoods, supporting youth entrepreneurship, and strengthening community resilience.

Participants expressed urgent calls for change and shared inspiration from their own journeys:

“My call for action is that youth must know agroecology is profitable, but we MUST prioritize people and planet over profit.”, Ms. Grace, Kikazi Products

“I voluntarily retired from teaching to show that agroecological farming can be sustainable and profitable, especially for women and youth”, Ms. Jane Nansubuga, Farmer

“I lost a relative to diet-related cancer. From that day, I chose organic food and committed to promoting agroecology so others don’t suffer the same fate.”, Ms. Grace, Kikazi Products

“Youth have huge opportunities in agroecology, from biopesticide production to local innovations that cut costs and increase resilience.” Mr. Mugisa Paul, Agape Innovations.

These voices reaffirmed that communities are not only aware of the dangers of industrial agriculture, they are actively innovating, teaching, and building safer alternatives.

Across the sessions, participants shared powerful lived experiences demonstrating how agroecology is restoring livelihoods, uplifting women and youth, strengthening cultural food heritage, and delivering safer, healthier diets.

The conversations showcased practical evidence on the social, economic, and cultural benefits of agroecology, hence reinforcing community solidarity and revitalizing traditional food heritage from youth-led bio-pesticide production, to millet-based value addition by women entrepreneurs, to farmers preserving and sharing indigenous seeds from their ancestral communities.

The spaces also offered a clear direction for what comes next. Participants urged households to grow backyard gardens, buy food from trusted agroecology vendors, talk to market operators about sourcing clean produce, and teach children to value traditional, unprocessed foods. They also called on local governments to promote clean and healthy groceries in markets and support farmers who prioritize safe, sustainable production.

Community voices and individuals also came into discussing the “Hidden Danger on Your Plate: Leveraging Policy and Legal Frameworks to Ban Highly Hazardous Agrochemicals,” focused on the growing risks posed by toxic chemical inputs in Uganda’s food chain.

Participants shared evidence of how HHPs are harming families, degrading ecosystems, and undermining Uganda’s position as a trusted exporter of organic products. Bernard Bwambale, a nutritionist from Global Consumer Organization, warned that the impacts of these chemicals go far beyond immediate poisoning.

“These chemicals can alter our DNA. Chronic exposure causes infertility, menstrual irregularities, miscarriages, and even stillbirths when contaminated food is eaten during pregnancy,” said Bwambale.

Medius Bihunirwa from PELUM Association criticized the double standards in global trade, noting that Europe has banned over 200 pesticides for domestic use, yet its companies continue exporting those same products to African countries. “Whatever is toxic to Europeans is also toxic to Africans. It is unacceptable that Europe bans these chemicals at home but sells them here,” she stated.

She emphasized the need for African countries to invest in their own agroecological future, warning that continued dependence on imported chemicals threatens both public health and the economy.

ESAFF’s Morris, highlighted the uncontrolled circulation of agrochemicals on the Ugandan market and the regulatory silence that has enabled the problem to grow.

“There is an overwhelming presence of toxic agrochemicals on the Ugandan market, yet petitions to ban these pesticides have been consistently ignored,” Morris noted.

Policy experts reiterated that existing laws offer little protection without proper implementation. While Uganda has the Agricultural Chemicals Control Act, it remains largely ineffective due to the absence of supporting regulations.

Beyond the policy room, participants emphasized the urgent need for community-driven solutions. They encouraged households to grow backyard gardens, buy food from trusted vendors who support agroecology, speak with market operators about sourcing chemical-free produce, and teach children to value safe, locally grown food. New consumer messages such as “My money only buys agroecology vegetables” and “I refuse to be chemically contaminated” were proposed as rallying calls for public awareness.

The dialogue ended with a strong sense of collective purpose. Stakeholders called for a national campaign to ban pesticides prohibited in their countries of origin, subsidize organic alternatives, raise consumer awareness, and strengthen enforcement mechanisms to eliminate illegal and dangerous agrochemicals from the market.

Together, the two discussions sparked vibrant engagement and set the stage for sustained collective action, uniting farmers, youth, policymakers, and civil society around the shared vision of healthy food, thriving communities, and ecological justice. The movement is growing, and communities are leading the way.