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Anelka Egonda

Local Companies

17 May, 2023

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This was revealed at a workshop on using a food system to enable Mbale City dwellers access healthy, nutritious and sustainable food at Mbale Court’s View Hotel.

The workshop was organized by Rikolto Great Lakes in collaboration with Mbale City, Food Rights Alliance and Global Consumer Center. Rikolto is an International network organization with over 40 years of experience in partnering with food chain stakeholders in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.

Peter Businda the Coordinator Good Food for Cities in Uganda under Rikolto says that they collected samples from green paper, passion fruit and tomatoes in Mbale City markets and took them to laboratories for testing. Businda says laboratory analysis showed that they had a lot of carbamates pesticides making them unsafe.

Businda also said that they discovered the water being used in irrigating the crops in the gardens is also contaminated with samples showing fecal matter. He also revealed that the water used by traders to clean the food in the markets is also contaminated. This he said if not checked gives rise to food borne diseases.

Rex John Achilla the Mbale Resident City Commissioner challenged the food inspectors to closely monitor the markets and carry out spot checks in the markets to save the lives of the City dwellers.

Catherine Nabulwala a senior assistant town clerk says they will continue monitoring and support the entire food value chain to ensure quality adherence. Nabulwala says they also intend to fast track the passing of an ordinance on food abuse. She also says there must be continuous sensitization of farmers and consumers on the quality and standard of good food.