KAMPALA- Parliament granted leave to Kigulu south Member of Parliament Milton Muwuma to present a Private Member’s Bill- The Food And Nutrition Bill, that seeks to impose a jail term of one year or fine of Shs1M on heads of households who without justification, refuse to provide safe and nutritious food to their families.
Muwuma’s proposal was backed by nine other MPs including; kumi municipality mp Silas Aogon , kyegegwa district woman mp Flavia Kabahenda ,wakiso district woman mp Ethel Naluyima ,kiboga district woman mp Christine Kaaya Nakimwero ,Bukooli Island county mp Peter Okeyo (Bukooli ,Otuke district woman mp Jolly Abeja Susan ,Napoere West county mp Phillips Lokwang llukoll, Bugiri district woman mp Agnes Taaka and Iganga district woman mp and Sauda Kauma .
In clause 24 of the draft Bill, Muwuma proposed a number of responsibilities for head of households that would require them to; (a) provide safe and nutritious food for the members of the household; (b) provide safe and nutritious food for school going children, infants, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in the household; (c) provide a food reserve for the household; (d) engage in gainful work and livelihood for the good of the family; and (e) participate in the formulation and implementation of developmental plans and programmes which affect his or her community.
Muwuma defended the enactment of the Bill arguing that it is intended to protect the 2.4million children in Uganda who are stunted, and address nutritional challenges like overfeeding that have exacerbated the challenge of Non-Communicable diseases, and improve Government’s preparedness in dealing with challenges of famine, instead of relying on donors.
Muwuma further argued that over nutrition has become an area of concern in the country and has led to a number of Non communicable Diseases. In Uganda, 33% of annual deaths are attributed to the five leading NCDs; cardio-vascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, Chronic Respiratory Diseases, Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
He further argued that when calamities such as famine in certain regions of Uganda and natural disasters befall the country, Uganda is often unprepared with food relief to such vulnerable persons and currently, Government highly depends on donor support and relief aid to reach the people and further defended the enactment of the law.
Muwuma proposes; that a person shall not hinder another person’s enjoyment of the right to food, or undertake an economic, social, cultural or other activity or practice which has the potential of affecting the enjoyment of the right to food; or is detrimental to another person’s right to food.
In the bill he proposes a punishment that “A person who contravenes this section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction (a) in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding fifty currency points or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both. In the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding one thousand currency points (Shs20M).
He also proposed that where a person is convicted under this section, court may in addition to the penalty prescribed, may make an order for community service, restitution, cessation of unlawful acts, guarantees of non-repetition, rehabilitation or compensation.
In clause 26 of the draft Bill, Muwuma also wants the Ministry of Education to enforce the provision of nutritious school meals to school going children by school management authorities, while in clause 28, he wants the Ministry of Health to establish measures to provide for the special nutrition needs of pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers and assist mothers to provide adequate care for their infants.
Muwuma also wants the Ministry of Health to promote and protect the right of infants to breast milk and to appropriate weaning foods after six months of age, and adopt appropriate measures for the enjoyment of the right to food for children of five years or less; and adopt measures to provide for food and nutrition needs of orphaned children.
