Interview: Dan Mukobe

“As we all know, healthy food not only means eating enough, but also a wide range of different foods.”

1. Please introduce yourself.

I am called Mukobe, 25 years old, and I live in Mafubra town, Jinja District in the Eastern region of Uganda.

2. What’s your favourite national dish or food?

My favourite dish is rice served with chicken or fish.

3. What’s the biggest issue in Uganda regarding micronutrient deficiency and Hidden Hunger?

As we all know, a healthy diet does not just mean eating enough, but eating a good range of foodstuff including vegetables, fruits and animal products like meat, milk and eggs. This has not been observed in most areas of our country and because of this, micronutrient deficiency and hidden hunger has become a serious problem in most parts of Uganda.

In the northern part of Uganda (Karamoja region), there has been increasing levels of malnutrition, especially for the children under the age of 5. It is estimated that 20% of the children in this region are victims suffering from a lack of some of the food nutrients and minerals. This is as a result of Karamoja being a dry area: The harvest cannot sustain the demand throughout the year.

In other areas like eastern Uganda, families that produce some of the nutritious foods instead sell it to the market, leaving their families with little or none at all. This results in malnourishment and often times goes unnotices for a long time. Sometimes even when we have the right foods, some of the nutrients are lost in handling, processing and cooking.

4. Have you personally been facing issues to maintain a healthy diet? If so, what did you do to improve it?

No, I have not been a victim of micronutrient deficiency because ever since I went to school, I learnt how to balance the food nutrients in diet.

5. If you had a budget of €10.000, what would you do to improve the situation in Uganda regarding Hidden Hunger?

I would organize monthly health seminars where health workers are hired, mobilized and sensitized to educate the public on how to balance the food nutrients and minerals in their bodies starting at the district levels. In doing so, this will reduce the risk of people suffering from hidden hunger.