The silent killer on supermarket shelves

What the report says

Public health advocates in Uganda are pressing the government to move faster on rules that would require clear warning labels on the front of packaged foods and drinks that are high in sugar, salt or unhealthy fats. In a report published by The Observer, the debate centers on ultra-processed products widely sold in supermarkets and local shops, which campaigners say are contributing to rising cases of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.

The article quotes Henry Kimera of consumer rights group Consent and Bernard Bwambale, also of Consent, as arguing that stronger labeling, restrictions on marketing to children, standards for public food procurement and taxes on sugary drinks would help consumers make safer choices. The Ministry of Health is said to support work on a Nutrient Profile Model and front-of-pack warning labels, but a ministry nutritionist, Dr Prospero Grace Ocheng, says funding shortages are slowing progress and that public sensitization would be needed before implementation.

The report says Uganda’s health burden is already significant, with ministry data indicating that non-communicable diseases account for 33 per cent of annual deaths. It also cites WHO estimates on diet-related NCD risk and national figures showing high levels of hypertension and rising overweight and obesity, especially among women. The story places Uganda in a broader global context, noting that many countries already require nutrition declarations or warning labels. It also highlights that Uganda’s food law dates to 1959 and is under revision, underscoring why advocates see the issue as both a health and economic concern.