According to Uganda’s 2021 Nutrition Profile, one in every three children under the age of five is stunted, with the rate peaking at 37% among those aged 18 to 35 months. The persistent burden of undernutrition remains a challenge despite recent improvements.

Speaking at the ongoing Stakeholder Dialogue on Financing for Nutrition held at Fairway Hotel in Kampala on April 17, 2025, Peter Ecweru, Project Manager for the Right to Grow initiative under Action Against Hunger, emphasized the urgent need for increased investment in nutrition and health services.

“Many children are stunted simply because they lack access to the proper nutrients their bodies need to grow. In some cases, stunted children make up to 17 visits to health centers a month. That alone is a signal that the health system needs more support,” Ecweru said.

He pointed to Northern Uganda as a region particularly affected by food insecurity and poor nutrition knowledge, noting that stunting levels there remain alarmingly high.

“The evidence shows that areas like Northern Uganda are not as food secure as others like Teso,” Ecweru explained. “We must build systems that educate communities on proper nutrition while also addressing the root causes of food insecurity.”

He emphasized that the fight against stunting is not solely the government’s responsibility. “Ending malnutrition is a collective duty. Everyone—from policymakers to community leaders and caregivers—has a role to play.”

Christine Namubiru, Program Associate at the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), echoed his concerns. She highlighted that stunting is a complex issue driven by multiple, interlinked factors including food insecurity, recurring childhood illnesses like diarrhea, low breastfeeding rates, teenage pregnancy, low education levels, and gender-based violence.

“While child stunting has slightly decreased to 26% in 2022 from 29% in 2016, and wasting dropped to 3.4% from 5% over the same period, the numbers are still deeply concerning,” Namubiru said, citing data from the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) 2022.

She urged the Ugandan government to step up its commitment to domestic funding for the Agro-industrialization Program, which has shown promise in addressing food security.

“The government should aim to fund at least 75% of this program. We’ve seen improvements, but sustainable progress requires consistent and adequate investment,” she added.

Stunting, characterized by low height-for-age due to chronic malnutrition—has far-reaching effects on children’s physical growth and cognitive development, threatening the country’s future human capital.

CSOs continue to advocate for a holistic, multisectoral approach to end malnutrition—one that centers maternal, infant, and young child nutrition while addressing gender inequality and empowering communities with knowledge and resources.