“Uganda’s Staple Foods Are Not the Enemy: Civil Society Leaders Challenge Misleading Diabetes Claims”

By Our REPORTER 

Kampala, Uganda August 4 [SHIFTMEDIA]  A coalition of civil society organizations has come together to correct what they describe as harmful misinformation following a recent New Vision article claiming that traditional Ugandan staple foods are causing a rise in Type 2 Diabetes.

The Uganda National Civil Society Coalition on Front of Pack Warning Labelling (UNCC-FOPWL) issued a strong public statement in response to the July 30 article titled “Staple Foods Causing Diabetes”. While acknowledging the seriousness of Uganda’s growing non-communicable disease (NCD) burden, the coalition criticized the article’s framing as scientifically misleading and culturally insensitive.

“We must not allow misinformation to stigmatize the very foods that have sustained our people for generations,” said Dr. David Kabanda, Executive Director of the Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT) and one of the country’s leading advocates for nutrition policy reform. “Matooke, millet, and beans are not the enemy. The problem lies in the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods and a shift away from diverse, whole-food diets.”

Reframing the Narrative on Diabetes

The coalition emphasized that Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a multifactorial condition influenced by genetics, lifestyle, environment, and socioeconomic factors—not a single food group. Poor dietary diversity, high intake of refined sugars and trans fats, low physical activity, and chronic stress are among the key contributors.

A 2025 study cited in the New Vision article, conducted in Busia and Bugiri districts, has been misrepresented, coalition leaders argue. The study by Kiguli et al. highlighted how modern lifestyle shifts, not traditional staples, are contributing to higher diabetes risk. It pointed to cultural norms and the lack of dietary variety, rather than indicting any specific indigenous food.

“Uganda’s traditional foods are nutrient-dense and foundational to our food sovereignty,” said Ms. Jane Nalunga, Executive Director of SEATINI Uganda. “Our concern is that misleading journalism could undermine food cultures and push communities toward unhealthy, imported alternatives that are heavily processed and aggressively marketed.”

Advocating for Balanced Diets and Local Food Systems

The coalition is urging the public to embrace dietary diversity and protect indigenous food traditions. Key to this is limiting the consumption of ultra-processed products—such as sugary drinks, packaged snacks, and fried fast foods—that are typically high in added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats.

“We must empower people to make healthy, informed choices,” said Kimera Henry, Team Leader and CEO of the Coalition for Social Economic Transformation (CONSENT). “That starts with protecting their right to know what’s in their food. Front of Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL) are a critical tool in this effort—they allow consumers to easily identify unhealthy products at a glance.”

UNCC-FOPWL is advocating for the government’s adoption of a Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM), which would classify foods based on nutritional content and support regulatory measures such as warning labels, marketing restrictions (especially to children), and taxes on unhealthy products.

 

Beyond Food: Addressing the Full Spectrum of Risk

The coalition’s message is clear: defeating diabetes requires a multi-sectoral approach. In addition to promoting traditional foods, they recommend regular physical activity, mental wellness, limiting alcohol, avoiding tobacco, and regular medical check-ups to monitor blood sugar levels and metabolic health.

“Urbanization and modernization are changing how we eat and live,” said Dr. Rehema Namaganda, Executive Director of FIAN Uganda. “We are seeing more people eating out, less home-cooked food, and rising stress levels. We must intervene now with comprehensive strategies that support both individual behavior change and systemic policy reform.”

Call for Ethical Journalism and Public Education

Central to the coalition’s concern is the role of media in shaping public perception. They are calling for a more responsible approach to science communication in Uganda, particularly in relation to non-communicable diseases.

“Journalists must engage with qualified health professionals when reporting on complex health issues,” said Dr. Kabanda. “A headline may seem harmless, but when it causes panic or misleads people away from their traditional diets, it has real health consequences.”

The coalition invites media professionals to collaborate with organizations like UNCC-FOPWL to ensure reporting is grounded in evidence and cultural context. “We are not here to censor journalism—we are here to partner in public education,” added Ms. Nalunga.

A Vision for a Healthier Uganda

The leadership of UNCC-FOPWL reaffirmed their commitment to a healthier, better-informed Uganda. Through policy advocacy, community outreach, and evidence-based nutrition education, the coalition is striving to reduce the burden of preventable diseases like Type 2 Diabetes.

“We are building a public health movement rooted in our own culture and science,” said Kimera. “Ugandans deserve access to safe, nutritious food and clear, truthful information to make informed decisions for their families.”