Editor,

Allow me to react to the article, "Ubugali: An affordable source of energy, protein” (The New Times, April 27).

Yes, ubugali (cassava bread) is an affordable source of energy; but is it also an affordable source of proteins? I don’t think so.

With 1.4g of protein for 100g of serving, that is 1.4 per cent which is extremely low. Actually children who depend on cassava as staple food without protein substitution suffer from kwashiorkor (a protein deficiency illness).

Cassava can, therefore, never be regarded as "an affordable source of protein”. Your heading and picture caption (ubugali is rich in carbohydrates and proteins) are contrary to scientific facts.

Otherwise, thank you for your good reporting on the subject of nutrition.

James Munanura

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Please do more research on the subject; otherwise your claims are misleading on this subject. Cassava is a carbohydrates (sugar), gives energy, but with "very low” protein benefits.

The only exception would be enriched cassava flour with added artificial proteins.

Ary