By Jane Elizabeth Umutangana
On the shelves of many shops in Kabale,packets of flour, bottles of soda, and tins of cooking oil sit quietly, ready for sale.
To most shoppers, they appear fresh and safe. Yet, hidden in plain sight, some of these products have long passed their expiry dates, putting residents at serious risk of foodborne illnesses.
Despite regulations prohibiting the sale of expired goods, enforcement gaps, low consumer awareness, and economic pressures have allowed the problem to persist for years. For the people of Kabale, every purchase carries an invisible risk.For many traders, selling expired products is a complicated challenge.
Doreen Tindimwebwa of Doreen Shop, located along Rugarama Road in Kabale, says inspections from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) are rare in her area.
She explains that some traders knowingly keep expired goods to avoid financial losses, particularly when stock moves slowly.
“Sometimes goods are brought to us already close to expiry, and without proper inspection, they end up staying on shelves longer than expected,” she says.
David Kasigwa of Kasigwa and Family Shop, located along Kabale-Kisoro Road, attributes the problem to low sales and seasonal demand. He explains that many products remain on shelves too long and expire before being sold. While some companies, such as soda suppliers, occasionally replace expired stock, he says this is not consistent across all goods.
“UNBS inspections happen maybe once a year. That is not enough to prevent expired products from circulating,” Kasigwa adds.
Enoch Ndyamuhakyi, a resident of Nyabikoni, Central Division of Kabale Municipality, recounts a frightening experience after buying a soda that tasted unusually sour and failed to produce the usual fizz. “I opened it and it just sat there, no sound, no bubbles. At first, I thought it was a manufacturing defect, but later I noticed the expiry date had long passed. I felt worried, what if I had given it to my children?” he says.
He adds that such experiences have made him more cautious, but he worries that many residents are still unaware of the risks.
Other consumers admit that economic pressures sometimes override safety concerns.
Dan Mwebesa, a boda boda rider, says many people in Kabale are forced to buy cheaper goods without checking expiry dates. “If something costs less than normal, most people just grab it.
They don’t even look at the label. They think it’s better to save money today than worry about tomorrow,” he explains.
Mwebesa adds that he often sees elderly residents and young parents in local markets buying discounted items, sometimes unaware that they may be expired.
Some shoppers admit they have fallen sick after consuming expired products. “Once I bought cooking oil from a small shop, and I later had stomach pains for two days.
I didn’t know it was expired until I checked the label,” recalls a woman who preferred to remain anonymous. “These things happen too often, and people are paying the price.”
The Kabale District Health Educator, Alfred Besigensi, warns that consuming expired products exposes people to harmful microorganisms that can cause diarrhoea, stomach infections, and, in severe cases, blood-related illnesses.
He adds that expiry dates are often written in English, which many consumers struggle to understand.
Besigensi also notes that some traders deliberately ignore expiry dates to minimize losses. “Public awareness is critical. Traders must ensure that only safe products are sold,” he urges.
The Deputy Executive Director for Standards, Patricia Bageine Ejalu, explains that UNBS regularly inspects shops to confiscate expired goods. She warns that traders found selling such products risk prosecution and possible imprisonment. “Selling expired products is illegal and a serious public health threat,” Ejalu says.
She adds that while UNBS cannot monitor every shop at all times, the agency is training District Commercial Officers to strengthen inspections at the local level.The situation in Kabale District reflects a number of challenges, ranging from weak enforcement and supply chain gaps to economic pressures and low consumer awareness.
As expired products continue to circulate in local markets, residents remain exposed to a hidden but very real health threat quietly, and in plain sight.
