Uganda: UPC's Akena Calls for Livestock Revival to Tackle Child Malnutrition in Northern Uganda

Uganda's People Congress (UPC) leader Jimmy Akena has called for a revival of the livestock industry to combat child malnutrition in the northern and eastern regions of the country. According to Akena, about 26 percent of Ugandan children under the age of five, or roughly two million children, suffer from stunted growth, which permanently affects brain development, learning ability, productivity, and future economic opportunities.

Akena argues that the disparities in child nutrition are directly linked to regional differences in livestock ownership and milk consumption, which he attributes to the destruction of cattle during the armed conflicts of the late 1980s. The regions with the lowest milk consumption, such as Lango, Acholi, and Teso, were the same areas that suffered the most significant livestock destruction during that time.

Akena emphasizes that cattle are not just a source of wealth but the backbone of rural livelihoods, providing milk, household income, school fees, medical care, and contributing to crop cultivation. He criticizes the incomplete implementation of government rehabilitation programs for veterinary services, livestock disease control, and dip tanks, which he believes have left many affected areas with poor child nutrition and regional inequalities.

Akena has personally rehabilitated livestock dip tanks in his constituency, stating that repairing one tank contributes to healthier cattle, more milk production, and improved child nutrition. He urges the government to treat child stunting as an agricultural, economic, and food security issue, requiring coordinated national action.