Why We Are Passionate About Food Rights

Uganda continues to approach the question of food as a matter of charity and benevolence, which perpetuates the continued violation of this right and hinders its effective realization. It is for such an attitude that statistics in this regard paint a grim picture.

Between 2013 and 2015 for instance, it is reported that the number of children in Uganda who died from conditions arising from under-nutrition was more than 500,000. According to UNICEF, 4 in every 10 deaths of children under the age of five are attributable to undernutrition.

Whereas such preventable deaths are arguably a violation of the right to life, the failure of Uganda to honour its legal obligations to realize the right to adequate food also has adverse consequences for other rights. Chronic undernourishment stunts physical and mental development, and weakens body immunity. This greatly prejudices the right to health

The ultimate responsibility for these violations lies on the State because the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights obliges it to respect, protect and fulfil these rights while the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights imposes on it the further obligation to promote, which includes creating awareness among the rights holders.

Uganda ratified both international instruments and is therefore legally bound to implement their provisions. The failure to do so has not only resulted into an impediment of efforts to realize the right to adequate food, but has also led to outright violations of the said right.

Ensuring access to adequate food for all therefore is not just an act of charity or benevolent policy choice, but a legally binding human rights obligation upon the State.