Table 3 Conclusions from Comparative Analysis with Kampala and other African Primary Cities
Mbale/Mbarara finding | Comparison summary |
|---|---|
Diet diversity: Low-medium (but medium mainly added groups of less nutritional value such as sugar and oil). Strong maize and starchy staples focus | Similar |
Food insecurity: Common feeling of being food insecure; Mean HFIASS Mbale: 7; Mbarara: 5; % HHs food insecure HFIAP Mbale: 67% Mbarara: 56% | Similar |
NCD experience & surrounding discourse: prevalence of overweight, obesity, diabetes, hypertension similar to Kampala and other African cities, despite the high levels of food insecurity and low diet diversity. Discourses similar | Similar |
Food Sources: Lack of advanced supermarketisation of resident food baskets | Similar in Kampala; May be different from other African cities |
Food sources: Persistence of traditional markets, and small shops that give credit, and where a customer is also more able to negotiate on price, for majority of residents’ needs was apparent across diverse residents | Similar in Kampala; May be different from some other African cities |
Food access strategies: The ways Mbale/Mbarara residents accessed food from different sources varied by class, assets, and links to rural land/relations | Some difference due to greater mobility & link to farming |
Active in rural agriculture: Own agriculture (via own or hired labour or family labour in rural area) continues to be important for many Mbale and Mbarara residents, largely supplementing food basket but some sales | Different (need for more representative surveys, not those selecting only UA households) |
Differing role of an urban agriculture: UA mainly yard gardening of maize/leafy vegetables for consuming, less market gardening; little evidence of zero-grazing/free-roaming livestock; nor of poultry/small meat-rearing | Different |
Potential of institutions to improve food security, via facilitating access to land to farm for staff/ surrounding communities, or simply via subsidies/donations | Different in that smaller cities may have less land pressure, & institutions may retain greater land areas |