The Right to Food around the Globe

  Uganda

The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda has directive principles that contribute to the realization of the right to adequate food. 

The Republic of Uganda has become a State party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in 1987 by way of accession.

CONSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITIONS OF THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE FOOD

Directive principles of state policy

Article XIV: General social and economic objectives. - “The State shall endeavour to fulfill the fundamental rights of all Ugandans to social justice and economic development and shall, in particular, ensure that- 
(a)
 all developmental efforts are directed at ensuring the maximum social and cultural well-being of the people; and 
(b) all Ugandans enjoy rights and opportunities and access to education, health services, clean and safe water, work, decent shelter, adequate clothing, food security and pension and retirement benefits.” 

Other pertinent provisions for the realization of the right to adequate food

Article V:  
(i) The State shall guarantee and respect institutions which are charged by the State with responsibility for protecting and promoting human rights by providing them with adequate resources to function effectively. 
(ii) The State shall guarantee and respect the independence of nongovernmental organisations which protect and promote human rights.” 

Article VII: “The State shall make reasonable provision for the welfare and maintenance of the aged.” 

Article XXII: “The State shall- 

(a) take appropriate steps to encourage people to grow and store adequate food; 
(b) establish national food reserves; and  
(c)
 encourage and promote proper nutrition through mass education and other appropriate means in order to build a healthy State.” 

Article 8A:  
(1) Uganda shall be governed based on principles of national interest and common good enshrined in the national objectives and directive principles of state policy. 
(2) Parliament shall make relevant laws for purposes of giving full effect to clause (1) of this Article.”

INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) – 1948

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) – 1966

Status: Accession (1987)

Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) – 1979

Status: Ratification (1985)

Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – 1989

Status: Ratification (1990)

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) – 2006

Status: Ratification (2008)

Legislation and policies recognizing the right to adequate food

Guidance on how to progressively realise the human right to adequate food in contexts of national food security has been provided by the Right to Food Guidelines, adopted by the FAO Council and endorsed by the Committee on World Food Security.

Considering that the human right to adequate food can be implemented through a variety of legal and policy actions, we invite you to visit the FAOLEX Country Profile database for a wide-ranging collection of measures that have been taken at national level. Some of the documents you may find are legislation and policies that touch on a number of relevant Guidelines, such as those on Access to resources and assets (Guideline 8), Food safety and consumer protection (Guideline 9), Support for vulnerable groups (Guideline 13) and Natural and human-made disasters (Guideline 16).

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