Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is an important food crop in eastern and central Africa. The crop is particularly important in the densely populated countries in the Lake Victoria zone particularly Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, where it plays more prominent and diversified roles in the food system. In Uganda, sweetpotato plays distinct roles of a predominant staple as well as a complementary staple food crop that is consumed throughout the year by farmers and low-income consumers. Sweetpotato is also a complementary staple in Rwanda and Uganda. The crop plays a primary role of famine reserve staple in Kenya, Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo.