The Hidden Poison in Uganda's Food Supply

Food safety has emerged as a major public concern in Uganda, where consumers routinely purchase items that have been secretly altered. Allen Lunkusse, a resident of Lungujja, experienced this firsthand when her six-month-old baby fell suddenly ill. She later discovered that the local dairy vendor had been spiking the milk with cassava and baking powder. While her case highlights the deceptive practices plaguing the market, milk is hardly the only commodity affected. Essential household items like groundnut paste, honey, and cooking oil frequently face adulteration designed to boost trader profits at the expense of unsuspecting buyers.

A study conducted in 2025 by Makerere University researcher W. Mukama shed light on the scale of the issue in Kampala. Examining 100 groundnut powder and paste samples across the city’s five divisions, the research revealed that only 25 samples were authentic. Nearly half contained foreign substances, including cassava flour, millet flour, bean powder, jackfruit seed powder, and maize flour. Similar fraudulent practices have surfaced elsewhere; earlier in 2026, Busia authorities reported that honey sold by hawkers contained up to 60 percent molasses, while historical UNBS seizures have targeted massive quantities of adulterated cooking oil.

Agnes Kirabo, executive director of the Food Rights Alliance, points out that because consumers cannot easily detect these alterations visually, public health remains heavily compromised. She emphasizes that Uganda lacks a comprehensive national survey to measure the exact prevalence of food fraud, relying instead on a patchwork of academic studies and regulatory seizures. Furthermore, experts stress the need to distinguish between deliberate fraud and accidental contamination resulting from poor storage or handling, such as moldy maize grain. Outdated legal frameworks, notably the 1959 Food and Drugs Act, further hinder effective prosecution and regulation.

Enforcing food safety standards remains a steep uphill battle for institutions like the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS). Eng Richard Ebong, a senior standards officer, explained that limited staffing prevents the bureau from maintaining a constant, 24-7 presence in every market. While UNBS utilizes a surveillance department to conduct targeted risk-based inspections, informal vendors and street food sellers fall under local government health authorities via the Public Health Act. Bridging these enforcement gaps and updating national laws will be vital to protecting Ugandan households from economic exploitation and severe health hazards. Read more about the original investigation on The Observer.