CEFROHT hosts the Bloomberg Philanthropies and GHAI to advance Evidence-Based Food Policies in Uganda.

On 28th and 29th August 2025, Bloomberg Philanthropies together with the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) were hosted by CEFROHT and other coalition members in Uganda. Discussions were centred on understanding Uganda’s food policy ecosystem, political will, and potential reform pathways to address the growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The concern?

Uganda is undergoing a rapid dietary transition, with ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt, and fat increasingly dominating the food environment. Currently, 33% of annual deaths in Uganda are caused by diet-related NCDs, yet the country still lacks comprehensive legislation to regulate marketing, promotion, and consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt, and fat; even among children both in and out of school.

Stakeholder Engagements

The delegation met with key government institutions including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, National Planning Authority, Ministry of Education and Sports, and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS). The delegation also engaged with civil society organisations, academia, researchers and legal practitioners.

Highlights included:

• Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs (MOJCA): The new light: Discussions towards pathways for comprehensive laws and Regulations, with emphasis on evidence generation and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
• National Planning Authority (NPA): Commitment to implement the food and nutrition initiatives within the framework of the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), focusing on the Human Capital Development Programme and key areas including fiscal policies, front-of-pack warning labelling, marketing restrictions on unhealthy foods, and school feeding models.
• Ministry of Health (MoH): Recognition of the urgent need to finalize the Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) as a foundation for Front-of-the Pack Warning Labelling regulations and standards (FOPWL), marketing restrictions of unhealthy foods to children, school feeding policies, public food procurement and fiscal policies.
• Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS): Work underway to develop FOPWL standards aligned with East African Community frameworks.
• Academia & Legal Practitioners: Calls for stronger evidence generation, consumer perception studies, and legal advocacy to enforce the right to adequate food.

Civil Society Contributions

The Uganda National Civil Society Coalition on Front-of-Pack Warning Labelling (UNCC-FOPWL), targets the FOPWL regulations and strategic multisectoral collaboration for advancement of a food environment that is safe and healthy for everyone in Uganda including the children.

The coalition emphasized the importance of coalition-strengthening, continuous stakeholder engagement, evidence generation and monitoring food industry interference in policy formulation processes.