Hunger is silently destroying Uganda’s human capital
Natural
resources – especially land – and human capital are the principal pillars of
national building. In Uganda these two assets are deteriorating at an alarming
rate.
Ecological
degradation through de-vegetation, deforestation, overfishing, soil erosion and
fertility loss, climate change – rising temperatures, droughts and floods –
dropping water tables, drying rivers and shrinking lakes are well known to the
authorities and to the public but little is being done to improve the situation.
Human
life – the purpose of this article – starts on the first day of conception. Scientific
studies have established that pregnant mothers who are under-nourished give
birth to infants who are underweight. In Uganda 12 percent of infants are born
underweight.