UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktaking Moment, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, July 2025
A Continental Moment of Reflection and Resolve
In July 2025, global leaders and development actors convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+4). The Summit represented a pivotal opportunity to reflect on the global journey toward equitable and sustainable food systems. Representing H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, Her Excellency Jessica Alupo, Vice President of Uganda, delivered a compelling national statement. Her address reaffirmed Uganda’s unwavering commitment to building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems that guarantee equitable access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food for all.
Uganda expressed deep appreciation to the Government and people of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for their warm hospitality and diplomatic courtesy extended to the Ugandan delegation. The Summit was co-convened by the United Nations, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the African Union Commission, highlighting the collective will of African nations to address the urgent need for food systems transformation.
The Strategic Imperative of Food System Reform
Uganda recognises that food systems are situated at the crossroads of climate resilience, public health, trade integration, and social equity. The transformation of these systems is not an aspirational goal, but an existential imperative for sustainable development, regional stability, and long-term economic empowerment.
In her remarks, the Vice President noted that Uganda had already undertaken significant structural and institutional reforms to drive this agenda. At the heart of this national commitment is the development and implementation of a comprehensive National Food Systems Transformation Pathway. This strategic roadmap has been embedded within the framework of Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which officially commenced on 1 July 2025 and will guide the nation’s transformation journey through 2030.
The NDP IV advances five foundational pillars: sustainable industrialisation, private sector development, human capital enhancement, infrastructure modernisation, and the reinforcement of governance and security. These priorities collectively anchor Uganda’s food systems agenda within a broader architecture of national transformation.
Institutional Innovation and Localised Development
Uganda’s strategy for food systems reform is both nationally coordinated and locally driven. The establishment of the National Food Systems Coordination Committee (NFSCC) and the creation of the Food and Agriculture Regulatory Authority are notable steps toward reinforcing institutional accountability and ensuring regulatory coherence across ministries and sectors.
At the grassroots level, Uganda’s launch of the Parish Development Model (PDM) stands as a flagship intervention in translating national policy into tangible, community-led results. The parish, Uganda’s smallest administrative unit, has become the nucleus of economic planning and implementation. By directing resources and decision-making to the community level, the PDM enhances local productivity, stimulates agribusiness, and promotes inclusive growth.
Equally transformative is Uganda’s school feeding programme. Described by the Vice President as more than a nutrition or education scheme, the initiative serves as a systemic intervention. It links agricultural production to local schools, improves children’s health and learning outcomes, and strengthens social cohesion through community engagement. This integrated approach illustrates Uganda’s commitment to multidimensional development.
A Continental Call for Action
As the UNFSS+4 Summit re-centred global attention on food systems, Uganda echoed the call for deeper cooperation and accelerated implementation. The Vice President urged fellow Member States and stakeholders to shift from rhetorical commitments to concrete, context-specific action. In particular, Uganda advocated for the scaling up of innovative financing mechanisms, the harnessing of indigenous and local knowledge, and the advancement of inclusive, people-centred solutions.
The Government reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with international and regional partners to unlock Africa’s full agricultural and nutritional potential. Uganda’s message was unequivocal: food is not a privilege to be enjoyed by a few; it is a fundamental human right that must be realised by all.
A Vision Rooted in Equity and Shared Prosperity
Uganda’s participation at the Summit underscored the nation’s broader vision for a transformed food system that fosters equity, sustainability, and dignity for every citizen. The government’s message, delivered with conviction by Vice President Alupo, reflected a country ready to lead, partner, and innovate. It embodied a vision where no child, no woman, and no man should go to bed hungry.
As the international community departs Addis Ababa with renewed momentum, Uganda’s voice resonates with clarity and resolve. It is a call to global solidarity, strategic investment, and transformational leadership. With vision and commitment, Uganda stands prepared to help shape a food-secure world—one that leaves no one behind.
