Mercy Melody Kayodi

Recently in Jinja Southern Division, we engaged members of the PWDs community in a practical nutrition training designed to strengthen household knowledge and decision-making. The session explored the dietary needs of different population groups, including pregnant women and children, and discussed how families can make better use of locally available foods to improve nutrition outcomes. This engagement reflects a broader development challenge in Uganda: food availability alone does not guarantee good nutrition. What families eat is shaped by household income, food prices, cultural practices, nutrition knowledge and access to essential services. Even when food is available, limited understanding of dietary diversity, meal planning and appropriate preparation can prevent households from achieving a balanced diet. For persons with disabilities, these challenges may be intensified by barriers to accessible information, inclusive services and meaningful participation in community programmes. Uganda’s 2022 Demographic and Health Survey reported that 26% of children under five are stunted. This is not only a measure of impaired physical growth; it is also an indicator of chronic undernutrition, with potential consequences for cognitive development, learning, school readiness and future productivity. Nutrition during pregnancy and the early years of life is therefore a critical investment in human capital and long-term community wellbeing. Improving nutrition in Eastern Uganda and across the country requires such practical, context-specific approaches that connect nutrition education with household livelihoods, social protection, accessible health and community services, and the foods families can realistically afford and obtain. It also requires recognising families, caregivers and young people as important actors in promoting healthier diets, nurturing care and more resilient communities. Every child deserves a healthy start in life, regardless of household income, disability or access to information and services. Integrating nutrition with Early Childhood Development, family resilience and disability inclusion is essential to achieving this goal and ensuring that no one is left behind. Grateful to @YouthKonect for Nutrition for partnering with us @HummingbirdUg to advance this important community-level work. #Nutrition #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #HumanCapital #DisabilityInclusion #YouthDevelopment