Uganda is said to be grappling with a “silent crisis” of food loss and waste, with nearly half of the nation’s harvest disappearing before it reaches consumers, according to a coalition of civil society and private sector partners marking the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.
Despite producing enough food to feed its 45 million people, Uganda loses an estimated 30-50% of its food output, undermining livelihoods, weakening food security, and costing the country millions of dollars in lost export revenue.
“This is not just about wasted harvests. It is about wasted lives, wasted opportunities, and wasted futures,” said Agnes Kirabo, Executive Director of the Food Rights Alliance. “We cannot continue to bury our heads in the sand while children go to bed hungry as tonnes of food rot in fields and storage facilities.”
The losses stem largely from poor post-harvest handling, limited infrastructure, and outdated practices. Farmers often dry maize on bare ground, store produce in non-airtight containers, or transport perishables without cold chains.
With less than 1% of food production benefiting from public storage facilities, most farmers remain vulnerable.
“The smallholder farmer, the backbone of Uganda’s food system, is paying the highest price,” said Sam Arop, Country Director of Farm Africa. “On average, farmers lose 17% of their output value. That is the difference between a child going to school or dropping out, a household eating or sleeping hungry.”
The economic toll is severe. In 2021, Kenya banned Ugandan maize over aflatoxin contamination, costing Uganda $121 million in export revenue. Researchers warn that climate change will only worsen post-harvest risks, leaving the country’s food system increasingly fragile.
Women hardest hit
The burden falls disproportionately on women, who make most household food decisions but lack access to storage facilities and finance.
According to the CASCADE project, women-led cooperatives using Village Savings and Loan Associations have already achieved “remarkable results” a 75% reduction in post-harvest losses, a 45% rise in household incomes, and a 60% improvement in child nutrition outcomes.
“When women have the tools, credit, and training, the entire community benefits,” said Daisy Yossa Immaculate, a CASCADE consortium partner.
Government and private sector responses
Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture says it is scaling up interventions, including constructing 200 community storage facilities, establishing food quality labs in every district, and launching a Digital Agriculture Information System.
But experts caution that policy without enforcement will not solve the crisis. “We have strategies on paper,” said Prof. George William Mape of AFRII, “but without coordinated implementation, farmers will keep losing while Uganda imports food it could easily produce.”
Meanwhile, the private sector is stepping in. The Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network has grown from 10 to over 100 companies investing in nutrient-dense seeds, safe packaging, and agro-processing.
“Business leaders are showing that solutions are possible, profitable, and scalable,” said Dennis Sum, the network’s director.
A call for urgent action
Civil society groups are now urging the government to pass standalone food loss and waste legislation, establish a National Food Loss Reduction Authority, and allocate 5% of the agriculture budget to post-harvest infrastructure.
“Uganda cannot afford to lose half its harvest while millions starve,” said Dr. Joweria Mambooze of Kyambogo University.
“The question is not whether we can solve this, but whether we have the will to act — and act now.”