UPC President Links Northern Uganda's Child Malnutrition to Lost Livestock

Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) President Jimmy Akena has pointed to the decimation of livestock during past armed conflicts as a primary driver of persistent child malnutrition and stunting in Uganda’s northern and eastern regions. He is calling for a concentrated effort to rebuild the rural cattle economy, emphasizing its crucial role in community well-being.

Akena highlighted that approximately 26 percent of Ugandan children under five, totaling around two million, suffer from stunting. He warned that this condition has lasting negative impacts on cognitive development, learning capacity, and future economic potential.

He argued that the disparities in child nutrition across regions mirror differences in milk consumption and livestock ownership. These disparities, he stated, can be traced back to the significant loss of cattle in conflict-affected areas during the late 1980s.

Regions such as Lango, Acholi, and Teso, which experienced the most severe disruption to their livestock economies, now exhibit the lowest milk consumption rates in the country. In contrast, western Uganda regions like Ankole have much higher per capita milk consumption.

Akena stressed that cattle are far more than a symbol of wealth; they form the foundation of rural livelihoods. They provide essential nutrition through milk, generate income for school fees and healthcare, and contribute to agricultural productivity.

While government rehabilitation programs post-conflict aimed to restore veterinary services and disease control, Akena noted that implementation was often inadequate in the most heavily impacted areas, perpetuating the cycle of poor nutrition and regional inequality.

He shared his personal initiative to repair livestock dip tanks in his constituency as a step towards restoring rural productivity, not just increasing animal numbers. Akena believes that each functioning dip tank contributes to healthier cattle, leading to increased milk production and ultimately improved child nutrition.

To address child stunting effectively, Akena urged the government to view it not solely as a health issue but as an interconnected agricultural, economic, and food security challenge demanding a coordinated national response.

This article is based on information from Nile Post.