In Uganda, FAO concludes an evaluation of the national food control system

In Uganda, FAO recently concluded a comprehensive assessment of the national food control system. The nine-month assessment culminated in a final workshop held in Kampala where high-level officials gathered to review and endorse the final report and strategic action plan.

Mr. Paul Mwambu, Commissioner from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, discussed the success of the assessment during the closing event, noting “Over the past months, we have witnessed remarkable progress in our efforts to strengthen food control in Uganda.”

The assessment is part of "Strengthening of Capacities and Governance in Food and Phytosanitary Control,” a 6.4-million-euro initiative funded by the European Union (EU) to build up capabilities, strengthen governance and improve strategic planning in food safety and plant health across 12 African Union Member Countries. Uganda is among the countries benefiting from an extension of the project, granted recently by the EU, which will enable further assessments in the region.

The initiative aligns with the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Policy Framework for Africa, a framework developed by the African Union (AU) laying the foundations for trade opportunities among AU Member States. This project is implemented in close partnership with the African Commission Division for Rural Economy and Agriculture (AUC DARBE).

Uganda joins six countries in the region to have concluded the food control system assessment. This week, Zimbabwe will be conducting a strategic workshop to conclude its assessment.

Assessment of the national food control system in Uganda

Assessment activities in Uganda began with an inception and training workshop in April 2023. A team of food safety experts from FAO worked closely with 35 focal points from local Competent Authorities for food safety and other stakeholders to collect and analyse data across several dimensions of the food control system. The FAO team conducted field visits and interviews and produced a draft report on the status of the system with recommendations for improvement.

Pivotal to the project was the introduction of the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool, a unique instrument developed by both United Nations agencies to assess the national food control system across the entire food chain, from production to distribution, retail market and consumers.

The goal of the assessment is to assist Uganda in adhering to international standards that will allow greater harmonization and trade in the region.

Conclusion of the project and the final workshop

The conclusion of the assessment was marked by the final workshop, where stakeholders, experts, and officials from Uganda’s food control system convened to review and endorse findings, agree on priorities, and develop a strategic action plan. Participants expressed satisfaction with the assessment’s outcomes, with one attendee noting, “The assessment gave me a clear understanding of our food control system and I can now be able to identify the gaps in the system.”

The key moment of the workshop was on February 2, when high-level officials from Ministries across the country’s food control system endorsed the recommendations and committed to implementing the strategic action plan. Mwambu emphasized Uganda’s proactive stance in addressing the challenges, stating, “I am proud to announce that the government of Uganda has taken the lead in this assessment process in setting its goals and addressing its unique challenges head on.” This underscores the country’s commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of its food supply”.

The outcomes of the assessment and last week’s workshop will help shape the future of food safety in Uganda.  

Read more about the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool 

Read more about the  FAO’s Office in Uganda

Photo: ©FAO/Denis Namanya