Kampala, Uganda

August 2025

Mufasha Uganda Leads National Campaign to Protect Children from Dangerous Trans Fats

Kampala, Uganda – Mufasha Uganda, a leading civil society organization in child health and public health policy advocacy, has launched an intensified campaign to eliminate industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFA) from Uganda’s food supply—citing the growing risk these hidden fats pose to children’s health.

Trans fats, often found in processed snacks, fried foods, and baked goods, are linked to heart disease, obesity, and other life-threatening non-communicable diseases (NCDs). With children in Uganda increasingly exposed to ultra-processed foods high in trans fats, Mufasha Uganda is sounding the alarm and calling for urgent government action to regulate and ban these harmful substances.

“Our children are consuming these dangerous fats every day without knowing it—and without protection from national food safety laws,” said Sarah Nakyobe, Executive Director of Mufasha Uganda. “This is not just a health issue. It is a matter of child rights and public accountability.”

Advocacy Rooted in Policy and Partnership

As part of its advocacy, Mufasha Uganda is:

• Working closely with the Ministry of Health to support the adoption of a national iTFA regulation, in line with the World Health Organization’s REPLACE framework.
• Campaigning for a legal limit of 2% iTFA in all fats, oils, and foods, and a complete ban on partially hydrogenated oils, which are the primary source of trans fats.
• Leading public awareness campaigns through radio talk shows, digital media, and school engagement, reaching thousands of families with life-saving information.
• Partnering with health professionals, civil society, and academia to push for evidence-based policymaking and expose industry efforts to block reforms.

The Case for Protecting Children

Children are particularly vulnerable to the long-term effects of poor nutrition. With aggressive marketing of cheap, processed snacks and limited food labeling standards, families are often unaware of what they’re consuming.

“Children should not grow up with food that silently threatens their future,” added Ms. Nakyobe. “Uganda needs to join other countries that have banned industrial trans fats—and we need to do it now.”

Mufasha Uganda’s efforts are aligned with a global movement led by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) and its Cardiovascular Health Initiative to support countries in passing best-practice policies that eliminate iTFA.

Next Steps

Mufasha Uganda is calling on Parliament, the Ministry of Health, and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to fast-track the passage of national iTFA regulation by 2026. The organization pledges to continue advocating until Uganda’s food environment is safer and healthier—especially for its youngest citizens.

“We must act now to protect future generations. Every day we delay is another day children are at risk.”

About Mufasha Uganda

Mufasha Uganda is a non-profit organization advancing child health and public health policy in Uganda. The organization works to influence health policy, promote nutrition and NCD prevention, and engage communities and decision-makers to ensure every child has the right to grow up healthy and safe.