Critical SWOT analysis of fresh fruit handling practices by traders in Uganda’s Capital City. A rapid cross-sectional study

Poor fruit handling practices causes physical damage to fruits and exposes them to pathogenic microbial contamination with Salmonella spp, E. coli and Vibrio spp. These contribute to food borne illnesses such as Salmonellosis, Shigellosis, Cholera, E. coli O157:H7 infection Campylobacteriosis among others. An estimated 14 percent of all diseases registered at health centers are food borne related in Uganda making this a public health concern. The economic burden of foodborne diseases was estimated at about 300 million United States Dollars in 2016. A rapid cross-sectional study was conducted using a SWOT framework to understand the fruit handling practices by traders in one of the markets in Uganda’s Capital City (Kampala). Our study showed that there existed some strengths such as Presence of an established market leadership and presence of organized registered and unregistered trade and social groups. Furthermore, there existed weaknesses that needed immediate attention such as (a) lack of clean water, (b) selling fruits on dirty market floor which exposes consumers to contaminated fruits, (c) disposal of spoilt fruits in open waste areas contaminates the soil, clogs drainage channels, creates a bad smell in the market and attracts rodents to feed on disposed fruits. We therefore recommend, establishing a ‘One Health’ market task force made up of traders, suppliers, farmers, consumers, local council, public health scientists and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) that can work with Ministry of Local Governments and Ministry of Health to train traders to implement appropriate fruit handling practices as detailed in KCCA market laws. The One Health task force can work with Ministry of Science and Technology to design and develop tools such as insulated fruit crates, raised fruit stands, and closed waste bins that could be used by market traders to improve fruit hygiene practices. The One health market taskforce will be in position to link with private international organizations such WASH international to draft proposals to provision for free clean water for the market which could improve fruit hygiene and market sanitation.