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The Division of Nutrition at the Health Ministry has reported a 20 percentage point increase in the proportion of mothers practising exclusive breastfeeding between 2016 and 2022.

Addressing journalists in a two-day training on breastfeeding, which ended on Wednesday, Samalie Namukose, the assistant commissioner for nutrition at the Division, said the country’s exclusive breastfeeding rate is at 87 percent. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended by the government for the baby's first six months of life.

"In 2016, Uganda's breastfeeding rate was 66 percent. Currently, it stands at 87 percent and our goal is to reach 95 percent by the end of 2025,” Namukose noted during the training organised by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

She explained that the Ministry encourages exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of the baby's life because of the nutritional and health benefits of breast milk and that it is sufficient for the baby.

According to information from Unicef: "Breast milk is the best and most complete food for babies during the first 1,000 days of life, helping to prevent diseases and boosting their brain development."

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