Making a Difference: How Uganda’s Vegan society is raising awareness about adopting a plant-based lifestyle

Uganda joined the rest of the world to celebrate veganism. This was observed in a week long restaurant week that begun on 23 - 29 January 2023 under the theme, “To promote, encourage and motivate people to become vegan with an aim of living healthier and prolonged lives.”

The continental campaign “Africa Vegan Restaurant Week” aimed at promoting healthy living, compassion towards animals and environmental conservation.

This week-long event explored a diverse vegan lifestyle and demonstrate how just a few adjustments in life can lead to a more compassionate and healthy way of living.

Annually over 100,000 Ugandans die of non-communicable diseases which is 35% of the total annual deaths in the country, according to Uganda Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (UNCDA).

In line with the Ministry of Health objective; ‘Focusing on prevention through creating awareness of the risk factors and advising people to adjust their lifestyles’ is one of the reasons Uganda organized the annual Vegan Restaurant Week so as to promote healthy vegan meals.

The rise of veganism has already had a significant impact on the food industry, with more people adopting a plant-based lifestyle.

Uganda’s vegan society is making a difference by raising awareness, creating community, promoting plant-based living, advocating for animal rights, and supporting sustainable agriculture. Through their efforts, vegan societies are helping to create a more just, compassionate, and sustainable food system that benefits both people and the planet.

The Africa regional coordinator of the Africa Vegan restaurant week, a project of Thrive Philanthropy, Ms. Nabaasa Innocent says going vegan is a great opportunity to learn more about nutrition and cooking, and improve your health.

“This definitely means one won’t be consuming saturated fat from meat, milk and eggs, and will be avoiding processed meat, which the World Health Organization has classified as a leading cause of cancer.”

She notes that among the ways the society has been able to create a positive impact has been through raising awareness, advocating for human rights, supporting sustainable agriculture among others.

“The Vegan society is raising awareness about the benefits of a plant-based diet through events, education, and outreach. By sharing information about the health, environmental, and ethical benefits of veganism, we are inspiring more people to adopt a plant-based lifestyle.”