The Ministry of Finance has issued a stern warning to Government agencies and school administrators regarding the presence of harmful substances in food products available in the Ugandan market. Ramathan Ggoobi, Secretary to the Treasury, conveyed this cautionary message in the recently released 2nd Budget Call Circular, preceding the finalization of the 2024/25 national budget.
In his communication, Ggoobi highlighted the concerning instances of food poisoning reported across various institutions, particularly educational establishments, attributed to factors such as aflatoxins, compromised quality standards, and challenges in post-harvest handling of grain and grain-based products like bread and maize flour. Government bodies, including Local Governments, the Uganda Police Force, and the Uganda Prisons Services, among others, have been strongly advised to procure grain and related products solely from suppliers certified by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).
Furthermore, Ggoobi emphasized that the Ministry of Finance will soon issue additional guidelines, mandating all Government Accounting Officers to procure certified grain and grain products to uphold quality, health, and safety standards for consumers both domestically and in export markets. He underscored the importance of collaboration between UNBS and the Ministry of Education and Sports to ensure that both private and public schools procure UNBS-certified products.
The Ministry of Finance’s directive comes in the wake of alarming revelations from the Ministry of Health in October 2023 regarding the detrimental impact of consuming aflatoxin-contaminated food, leading to a surge in liver cancer cases in Uganda. Margaret Muhanga, Minister of State for Primary Health Care, highlighted the significant financial burden incurred by the government in treating liver cancer patients, underscoring the urgent need for preventive measures against aflatoxin exposure.
In addition to the food safety concerns, the Ministry of Finance has taken proactive measures to optimize resource allocation by prohibiting Ministries, Agencies, and Departments of Government from embarking on new construction projects for office premises. This decision aims to ensure the efficient utilization of available resources for service delivery priorities. Ggoobi emphasized the need for proper clearance procedures from the Office of the President and the Ministry itself for any proposed construction projects, reaffirming the focus on channeling resources towards essential endeavors in the upcoming financial year.
