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Uganda

General Information

• WHO Africa - Country Profile: http://www.afro.who.int/des/fos/country_profiles/uganda.pdf
• This paper gives out the food control system in Uganda . It pointed out the main Food Safety and Quality Problems Encountered with the Country's Imports. Like most developing countries, mechanism for collection & dissemination of information is not available. Food Laws and Implementing Authorities are in place, but are hindered due to corruption and weak coordinating authority. However, the national standards are similar to the codex standards.

See also International Portal on Food Safety, Animal & Plant Health

Key Legal Documents

Links to Organisations involved in Food Law

Information (listed by date)

2006

• Document: Implementation of the SPS Agreement - - Communication from Uganda
• Source: Information for the Workshop on 31 March 2006. Communication, received on 29 March 2006, circulated at the request of the Delegation of Uganda.
• Extract: "At present, activities in food safety and control in the country are uncoordinated and scattered in different Government Ministries, and are being implemented by different agencies and authorities. The mandates for these agencies and Authorities are stipulated or provided for under different laws and regulations. The current food control and safety system is severely hindered by outdated food laws and the inadequate resources required for building a sound food safety control infrastructure, including an adequate force, laboratory facilities, and necessary scientific expertise and research."
• Link: http://www.ipfsaph.org/cds_upload/kopool_data/WTOSPSDOC_0/en_gen673.doc

2003

• Document: Perceptions on Food Safety, Security and Trade: Experience in Uganda by Kisamba-Mugerwa
• Source: Statement given at a high-level consultation sponsored by the International Food Policy Research Institute and the Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns Hopkins University.s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, June 21, 2003 in Washington DC
• Link: http://www.ifpri.org/events/seminars/2003/20030621/kisambamugerwa.pdf
  

2002

• Document: Uganda - Theme and topic papers with summaries of applicable Conference Room Documents for Capacity Building
• Source: FAO/WHO Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators, Marrakesh, Morocco, 28 - 30 January 2002
  Improving Efficiency and Transparency in Food Safety Systems- Sharing Experiences - Appendix X
• Link: http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/004/Y3680E/Y3680E11.htm
• Abstract: The document gives an overview of the food safety control system in Uganda and highlights some of the urgent issues which require attention, such as foodborne illness resulting from sanitation failures in food production, processing, retailing and handling; basic food hygiene due to lack of necessary sanitation infrastructure; import of processed foods; obsolete food laws and lack of resources which hamper the current food control system. Details are provided on the EU inspection mission to Uganda and the problems that local inspectors are encountering in carrying out their duties due to lack of clear guidelines and standard operating practices and out of date laws and regulations. The document presents Uganda 's achievements in the area of food safety and health, due in part to support from donor agencies, and describes current endeavours towards the development of an effective national food safety control system.

• Document: Uganda Country Report on the Integration of Multiple Sources of Technical Assistance to Capacity Building on improving the Quality of Fish for Export by Dr. Sam. Zaramba, Director, Clinical & Community Services, Ministry of Health, Uganda
• Source: FAO/WHO Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators Marrakech, Morocco, 28 - 30 January 2002 Conference Room Document proposed by Uganda
• Link: http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/MEETING/004/AB535E.HTM
• Abstract: This article gives an overview of food control systems in Uganda . The system was hindered by an outdated food law, and decentralized. Like most African countries, Uganda is faced with inadequate resources important for building up a sound food control system such as well equipped laboratories and expertise. As the result, lead to food-borne illnesses, a significant public health problem. Improvements have been done by the government of Uganda through developing a comprehensive National Food and Nutrition Policy and developing the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, updating the food safety standards and harmonized them with the codex standards.

2000

• Document: Codex Co-ordinating Committee for Africa (November 2000).
• Link: ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/ALINORM01/Al01_28e.pdf
• Extract: "The Delegation of Uganda informed the Committee that the Uganda National Bureau of Standards had developed 67 food standards, 46 of which were Codex based. The National Codex Committee developed their draft National Food Law based on the FAO/WHO Model Food Law. It was indicated that both the Ugandan and East African Standards on the Labelling of Pre-packaged Foods were based on the corresponding Codex Standard.

"The Delegation reported that, following the 2-day workshop sponsored by FAO, on the responsibilities and functions of National Codex Committees, (June 2000), the National Codex Committee was established comprising representatives from Government ministries, the industry and trade associations, academia, research institutions, and consumer organizations. The Codex Contact Point is located in the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, while the Chairmanship of the National Codex Committee resided in the Ministry of Health (MOH). The National Codex Committee had established the following Technical Committees: (a) General Purposes Committee, (b) Animal and Animal Products Committee, (c) Plant and Plant Products Committee and (d) Special Committee.

"The Delegation reported further that, since the establishment of the National Codex Committee in June 2000, a Work Plan had been prepared and the National Codex Committee had undertaken the following major activities: (a) Reviewing of the Codex time-table with the view to identifying those Codex sessions of special interest to Uganda. Thus, Uganda attended the 33rd Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene; and (b) Making adequate preparation and arrangements for the hosting of the 14th Session of this Committee."

Information last updated - 21 May 2006