Sports are increasingly being used to promote better nutrition and healthy lifestyles among children, as stakeholders call for stronger school feeding programmes and school gardens to tackle malnutrition in Uganda.
The call was made during the Sports-for-Health Programme organised by the Scaling Up Nutrition and Food Security for Youth, Adolescents and Children Civil Society Network (SUNFOYAC-CSN), in partnership with the Ministry of Health.
The three-day programme, running from September 21 to 23 at Kitebi Primary School grounds in Kampala, brings together more than 1,500 learners, teachers, coaches, parents and community members through Under-15 and Under-17 football and netball tournaments, health outreaches and nutrition education.
The programme is being implemented under the “Fix My Food” campaign, with the theme: “Promoting Healthy Lifestyles, Better Nutrition and Climate-Resilient Communities Through Sports.”
Bernard Sembatya the Country Director of SUNFOYAC-CSN Uganda, said sports provide an opportunity to take the nutrition conversation beyond health facilities and into schools, homes and communities where children make everyday choices about food and physical activity.
He said sustainable school feeding programmes should be prioritised, with schools encouraged to establish gardens and agriculture programmes that can provide nutritious food while equipping learners with practical skills.
“The main gap is sustainability of our school feeding programme. If we embrace sustainable school feeding, government can support schools, while private schools can also be supported by their committees to have school-smart gardens and agriculture programmes,” Sembatya said.
He said school gardens could also help connect schools with families and communities by enabling children to transfer knowledge about food production and nutrition to their homes.
The concerns are also being experienced at school level.
Joseph Mugaya , a teacher at Kitebi Primary School, said some learners report to school without having eaten, making it difficult for them to concentrate until lunchtime.
He said the school had also experienced cases of girls collapsing in class, prompting consultations with health workers who advised the school to engage parents on better nutrition.
“Fruits are very important. Foods that are not fried should be encouraged for these children. But because of the financial circumstances of parents, it may not be easy,” Mugaya said.
He said the school encourages parents to contribute towards feeding programmes, but limited household incomes continue to affect the school’s ability to provide adequate meals.
Mugaya said the Sports-for-Health programme would also provide an opportunity for the school to engage parents on appropriate feeding practices.
James Kasumba of the National Council of Sports said sports should be considered an important part of children’s physical, mental and social development.
Kasumba said regular physical activity promotes healthy living and can help reduce risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases, while also supporting cognitive development and teamwork.
He also urged parents to reduce children’s reliance on fast foods and instead provide balanced diets that include fruits, vegetables and proteins.
Kasumba said sports also teaches children discipline, teamwork and how to deal with both success and setbacks.
Meanwhile, Henry Kawesa, Director of Agrolinx Academy in Namasuba, called for greater participation of both government and private schools in initiatives promoting healthy lifestyles among children.
Kawesa said schools should work together to improve children’s diets and physical wellbeing, noting concerns about conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes among young people.
“We get the trees when they are still young, so they can grow and become better citizens of Uganda,” Kawesa said.
He said healthy living should begin in childhood, with schools playing a central role in promoting balanced diets, physical activity and practical agriculture skills.
According to SUNFOYAC-CSN, about 26 percent of children under five in Uganda are stunted, meaning more than one in every four children is affected by chronic undernutrition.
The country also faces other forms of malnutrition, including anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies, alongside growing concerns about overweight, obesity and diet-related diseases.
The organisers say the challenge is not only food availability but also affordability, dietary diversity, household food security and the impact of climate change on food production.
The Fix My Food campaign will promote healthier school meals, school nutrition clubs, household and school gardens, healthy cooking, nutrition counselling and greater awareness of affordable and nutritious local foods.
Through football and netball, young people are also being encouraged to connect healthy eating with physical activity, mental wellbeing and healthy lifestyles.
The programme will further provide opportunities for young people to engage on HIV and tuberculosis, sexual and reproductive health, food security and climate change.
The Sports-for-Health Programme forms part of activities leading to the Second National High-Level Youth Dialogue on Nutrition, Food Systems and Climate-Resilient Health Programming, scheduled for October 15 and 16 in Kampala.
The dialogue is expected to bring together young people, government, civil society, schools, communities, development partners, academia and the private sector to discuss practical solutions to improve nutrition, strengthen food systems and build climate-resilient health systems.
