KAMPALA— In a country lauded for its agricultural potential and growing export sector, Uganda’s persistent struggle with hunger is a paradox that continues to baffle policymakers and development partners alike. Despite these strengths, the 2024 Global Hunger Index ranks Uganda 105th out of 127 countries with sufficient data, classifying its food insecurity as “serious.” With a hunger score of 27.3, Uganda’s journey toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2—Zero Hunger—remains challenging.
Yet a powerful new narrative is taking shape, one that sees infrastructure not just as a development tool but as a lifeline. Roads and market access are proving to be critical levers in improving food security across the country.
Roads to Resilience
At the 13th National Forum on Agriculture and Food Security, held on June 26, 2025, at the Protea Hotel in Kampala, the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) presented findings that highlight a significant link between infrastructure and household food security.
Dr. Swaibu Mbowa, EPRC’s Senior Research Fellow, explained the essence of the research.
“We realised that consistently, households that live in LC (Local Council) areas where a national road traverses and have access to the market—both within and outside the LC—have consistently fared better in food security,” he said.
Drawing on data from the Uganda National Household Survey (2009/10–2019/20) and the Uganda National Panel Survey (2013/14, 2015/16, 2018/19), the study used Dietary Energy Consumption (DEC) as a key measure. The results showed that households near national roads, whether paved or unpaved, enjoy better food security than those without such access.
“The logic is straightforward but profound,” Mbowa noted. “Our work was to interrogate the impact of road and market infrastructure on household food security. We needed to understand to what extent this relationship exists. What we found is that access to roads and markets significantly boosts a household’s ability to secure food, bridging the gap between surplus and scarcity.”
When Systems Fail
Uganda’s worsening food security in 2024 stems not only from production issues but from broader systemic failures. The World Food Programme’s Annual Country Report notes that recurring climate shocks and an ongoing influx of refugees have deepened the crisis. Additionally, funding shortfalls have led to some of the lowest food rations for refugees in the region, straining already fragile humanitarian efforts.
However, the underlying issue isn’t simply about growing more food—it’s about moving it. Nearly half of all households in Uganda experience food insecurity, not because food doesn’t exist, but because it often doesn’t reach where it’s needed.
“Food insecurity in Africa isn’t just about producing more—it’s about fixing the broken systems that prevent it from getting where it’s needed most,” said Axel van Trotsenburg, Senior Managing Director at the World Bank.
“By investing and improving transportation, we can remove the key bottlenecks, reduce costs, and ensure more reliable access to food for millions of people.”
The numbers are stark: 36.9% of Uganda’s population is undernourished, 25.4% of children under five are stunted, and 4.1% die before their fifth birthday.
Dr. Sarah N. Ssewanyana, Executive Director at EPRC, conveyed this urgency in a statement read by Programmes Manager Elizabeth Birabwa:
“Roads and market infrastructure are the vital channels of our food system. Where they are strong, food flows. Where they are weak, communities suffer.”
She described a vision for a more connected Uganda—where no farmer’s harvest rots in the field and no family goes hungry simply because their village cannot be reached.
A Changing Landscape
The EPRC report also reveals a shift in how Ugandans source their food. A decade ago, half of all households grew their own food. Today, that number has fallen to 30%. Meanwhile, 60% now depend on markets and 10% rely on food gifts.
This increasing market reliance only magnifies the need for infrastructure that works.
“Accessibility to critical national infrastructure is not growing fast enough,” Mbowa cautioned. As the population grows, many households find themselves further from the essential roads and markets that could provide food security.
The research also controlled for various socio-economic factors—such as education, gender, religion, and household size—further isolating infrastructure as a primary driver of food security. And as access continues to fall behind population growth, the consequences are becoming harder to ignore.
Voices from the Frontlines
Government officials at the forum acknowledged the challenges while outlining current interventions.
Eng. Twinamatsiko Emmanuel, Assistant Commissioner for District and Community Access Roads at the Ministry of Works and Transport, discussed plans to map agricultural zones and connect smallholder farms to markets. But obstacles persist.
“We have inadequate funding for road maintenance, including equipment repair. Unpaved roads are susceptible to flooding. There is also limited technical capacity at the local government level and among local contractors,” he admitted.
From the Ministry of Agriculture, Assistant Commissioner for Food and Social Security, Alex Bambona, emphasized irrigation as a climate adaptation strategy. Still, he stressed that road access underpins every solution:
“The road infrastructure remains the basic enabler, and we are more concerned with the rural and community roads.”
Fred Ahimbisibwe of the Ministry of Trade highlighted the economic dimension:
“Trade ensures that we have food availability, accessibility, affordability, and variety. This happens because we can connect producers and consumers.”
He also pointed to the Markets Act 2023 as a framework to facilitate smoother agricultural trade and complement physical infrastructure investments.
Looking Ahead
The message from the EPRC’s findings is clear: improving road and market infrastructure is no longer optional—it’s essential.
“The comforting thing is that there has been an increase in food security outcomes because of access to a combination of market and national road infrastructure,” Mbowa said.
But comfort should not lead to complacency. With nearly half the population food insecure and infrastructure development failing to keep pace with demographic growth, Uganda faces a critical crossroads. The nation’s ability to nourish its people increasingly depends on the strength of its roads—and the resolve of its leadership.
