Lawmakers Sound Alarm Over Rising Aflatoxin Levels In Ugandan Food

By Spy Uganda

Members of Parliament on the Agriculture Committee have raised serious concerns over the growing prevalence of aflatoxins in food produced across Uganda, with many sharing alarming accounts of residents succumbing to diseases linked to aflatoxin exposure, such as liver cirrhosis.

This follows a presentation by Agnes Kirabo, Executive Director of the Food Rights Alliance, who urged Parliament to intensify efforts in implementing Uganda’s Aflatoxin Control Plan. Kirabo highlighted that aflatoxin contamination is on the rise, exacerbated by the unpredictable effects of climate change.

“We assessed aflatoxins and found that the rates remain dangerously high, and they’re increasing due to climate change,” Kirabo explained. “Farmers can no longer predict when it will rain, making grain drying and storage a major challenge. This has created ideal conditions for aflatoxin contamination, especially in crops like maize and sorghum.”

A joint report by Parliament’s Committees on Agriculture and Health, published in April 2024, estimated that Uganda loses $38 million annually in potential exports due to aflatoxin contamination. Despite this alarming figure, the issue persists. Jennifer Driwaru, MP for Maracha, revealed that several MPs are grappling with similar health crises in their constituencies. She reported that her district recently lost three people within one week due to liver-related complications.

“We buried a 19-year-old yesterday, and today we are burying two more people. The liver is failing; it’s cirrhosis. In just two days, we’ve lost three people to these conditions,” Driwaru stated somberly.

Cirrhosis, as defined by the UK National Health System, is scarring of the liver caused by prolonged damage. This scarring prevents the liver from functioning properly and often results from chronic conditions such as hepatitis. In Uganda, aflatoxin exposure is a significant contributor to liver disease. According to the Uganda Cancer Institute, the facility receives 170-200 new liver cancer cases annually, with 48-56 of those directly linked to aflatoxins. Treating these patients costs the country approximately UGX 3.12 billion per year.

Emmanuel Otaala, MP for West Budama South, emphasized the urgent need to implement existing policies, lamenting Uganda’s tendency to draft excellent plans that are never acted upon. “We need to reject the rhetoric that Ugandans are good at making policies that gather dust on the shelves. We should be the ones pushing for real implementation,” Otaala urged.

Racheal Magoola, MP for Bugweri, echoed these sentiments, stressing the need for immediate action. “This issue must become like a drumbeat. There seems to be ignorance about the reality of what’s happening with our food. The response needs to be urgent, reaching decision-makers and the National Development Plan to improve food handling and safety,” Magoola said.

The Food Rights Alliance has also raised the alarm about aflatoxin contamination in school feeding programs, a growing concern that wasn’t anticipated when the Aflatoxin Action Plan was initially drafted. Kirabo called for more accessible and affordable testing technologies, stating, “We need aflatoxin test kits to become as common as malaria tests. Only then can we make informed decisions. But for now, aflatoxin contamination is on the rise.”