World Food Day 2024: Food Scientists Make Urgent Call for Nutritional Awareness and Reform in Uganda
Shift Media News 
By Our Reporter
KAMPALA, Uganda [SHIFTMEDIA] The recently released CONSENT inaugural “Annual Consumer Voice Report” has portrayed a glimpse of hope regarding Ugandans desire to air out their complaints.
The report, which reflects the perspectives of consumers from five major regions—Mbale, Kampala, Gulu, Wakiso, and Kasese—highlights several key issues affecting Ugandans in sectors such as transport, health, education, electricity, water, sanitation, agriculture, trade, and digital finance.
The Annual Consumer Voice Report is a vital tool that sheds light on the everyday struggles of consumers and serves as a call to action for both government and private sector players to improve service delivery. It provides insights into systemic challenges that have long affected Ugandans’ access to basic services, many of which are critical to improving their quality of life.
Key Findings of the Report
The report’s findings were largely focused on recurring issues across various sectors, with transport, health, and education emerging as areas of particular concern. Consumers in Kampala and Wakiso reported frequent grievances with the state of public transport, citing poor road conditions, unsafe travel practices, and overcharging by taxi operators. This mirrors the frustrations of consumers in Mbale and Gulu, who also flagged transportation as a significant barrier to accessing basic services.
While releasing the report at Protea Hotel in Kampala, Consent Uganda Team Leader, Henry Richard Kimera said the report was gathered from October 2023 to October 2024.
According to the report, in the health sector, complaints centered around poor healthcare services, long waiting times, understocked facilities, and the high cost of medical care, which many consumers find unaffordable. The education system, particularly in rural areas, faced challenges related to inadequate infrastructure, limited access to learning materials, and overcrowded classrooms.
The electricity sector also saw a fair share of complaints, with consumers in several regions expressing dissatisfaction with frequent power outages and the high cost of energy, which impacts both households and businesses. Meanwhile, issues of water and sanitation continue to plague consumers, particularly in rural areas where access to clean water is still a major challenge. Complaints about inadequate sanitation facilities in some urban slums were also highlighted, reflecting a broader concern about public health.
Agriculture and food systems were also scrutinized, with consumers raising concerns about poor-quality food products, inconsistent pricing, and difficulties in accessing markets. This is particularly concerning in light of the sector’s importance to Uganda’s economy, with a significant portion of the population depending on agriculture for their livelihoods.
The report’s finding in relation to digital finance emerged as a growing concern. While the rise of mobile money and digital payment systems has brought significant benefits, there are still concerns about fraud, lack of transparency, and consumer protection in digital transactions.
Kimera Richard Henry, the Team Leader of CONSENT Uganda, spoke candidly about the organization’s journey since its inception in 1993. He acknowledged the immense challenges that CONSENT has faced in advocating for consumer rights, but also celebrated the progress made over the years. According to Kimera, the release of the Annual Consumer Voice Report marks an important milestone in CONSENT’s work of giving Ugandans a platform to voice their grievances and call for improved services.
“The journey has been challenging,” Kimera remarked, “but with the support of our partners, stakeholders, and the consumers themselves, we have made significant strides. This report is a testament to the resilience of Ugandans and our collective commitment to ensuring that consumers are heard, ” he said.
Kimera further hailed the collaboration between government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector as critical in addressing consumer complaints. He emphasized that the findings in the report are not just a reflection of the challenges but also a roadmap for improving the delivery of goods and services in Uganda.
The Assistant Commissioner Food and Nutrition in the https://Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Alex Bambona said the CONSENT Uganda’s efforts to elevate the voices of consumers through this report will play a crucial role in shaping policies that prioritize the welfare of the Ugandan public.
