KAMPALA FOOD HANDLERS AND MARKET MASTERS TRAINED ON FOOD SAFETY

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has taken a significant step to improve food safety practices across the city by organizing a specialized training for food handlers and market masters.

The event, held in the Mayor’s Parlor on January 22, aimed to educate food vendors on hygiene and safe food handling while equipping market masters with skills to enforce food safety standards effectively.

The Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, attended the event, emphasizing the importance of adhering to legal frameworks such as the Market Act 2023, which spells out what is required of the vendors in food handling.

He underscored the role of good leadership in ensuring proper market administration and urged market leaders to sensitize vendors on legal requirements for food safety.

“When you are in the markets, remember that nutrition is key, and the way we handle food is very important. Keep your places clean,” Lukwago said, highlighting the critical role of hygiene in public health.

The training was facilitated by experts from Makerere University and the Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives, with support from the Global Alliance to Improve Nutrition (GAIN).

Olive Namazzi, KCCA’s Executive Secretary for Social Services, reiterated the authority’s commitment to prioritizing food hygiene in markets, stating, “The issue of markets and food hygiene is a top priority in our management.”

Participants learned about best practices for food hygiene, storage, and handling, including the principle of "Cook it clean" to ensure safe consumption.

The initiative comes in response to recent findings from a Makerere University and GAIN study, which revealed alarming risks associated with reused cooking oil, and improperly handled milk and fish.

These challenges highlight a gap in food safety practices and the capacity of market masters to enforce compliance.

Foodborne illnesses remain a serious threat to public health, especially in urban areas where street food is a primary source of nutrition for many. The training aimed to bridge these gaps by empowering market masters and food handlers with knowledge and resources to uphold safety standards.

Namazzi commended market masters for their efforts in maintaining order in the markets and urged them to continue advocating for safe food practices. “Your work is critical to ensuring public health and safety in Kampala,” she remarked.

This initiative aligns with KCCA’s broader mandate to uphold public health and ensure food safety across the city, as well as the Kampala Capital City Nutrition Action Plan (KCC-NAP) 2023/2024–2029/2030. This comprehensive strategy is designed to address the city’s malnutrition challenges, promote better nutritional outcomes, and enhance overall food safety standards within Kampala.

By enhancing the capacity of market leaders and food vendors, KCCA aims to reduce foodborne illnesses and foster a safer environment for consumers.