Uganda Civil Servants Told To Exercise Weekly

The Ugandan government has instructed all civil servants to spend two hours a week doing physical exercise to keep them fit and healthy.

The directive was shared in a letter to government agencies from the head of public service, Lucy Nakyobe, who said the sessions would “help save the lives of staff and reduce the disease burden”.

The Government of Uganda also said that the initiative will “tame the rising burden of lifestyle disease” in the country.

It comes two years after a national health survey showed obesity rates in the country had risen from 17% to 26% in the last 17 years.

This is not the first time Uganda’s government has introduced initiatives to encourage exercise. In 2018, Uganda brought in the national day for physical activity which sees sporting activities held across the country.