Sembabule Resident District commissioner, Caleb Tukaikiriza, has advised Ugandans to reduce alcohol consumption and instead embrace taking milk which has nutrients much needed in the body.
According to the 2023 report released by the World Health Organisation, WHO, Uganda ranks first in alcohol consumption on the African continent.
On average, according to the WHO report, a Ugandan consumes 12.21 litres of pure alcohol annually with Men consuming more than women, with an average of 19.93 litres of pure alcohol annually compared to 4.88 litres for women.
Tukaikiriza said Uganda can increase its per capita milk consumption by encouraging parents to give milk to their school going children as recently proposed by the government.
Tukaikiriza made the call during the June Milk Month celebrations in Sembabule Town on June 23rd.
The annual International Milk Day falls on June 1, but some countries celebrate the day on different dates within the same month.
Per capita milk consumption in Uganda currently stands at only 62 litres, which is far below the 200 litres recommended by the World Food Programme.
Fred Kyakulaga Bwino, the state Minister for Agriculture who was chief guest, said the dairy sub sector has potential to become Uganda’s number one value added revenue earner if more Ugandans increase the quantity of milk they take daily.
