Budaka Launches School Feeding Initiative to Combat Hunger and Boost Education

Budaka District in eastern Uganda is addressing a critical barrier to education: hunger among schoolchildren. Many pupils arrive in uniform but struggle with empty stomachs, leading to fatigue, reduced class participation, and higher dropout rates.

Local leaders, including Senior Education Officer Kanifa Mugala, note that food insecurity from dry spells and poor harvests in this farming-dependent area worsens the issue. The new programme, set to start in the second term, will provide at least one daily meal to pupils in government-aided primary schools.

The initiative draws from successful models in other districts, aiming to improve attendance, concentration, and academic results. LC3 Chairperson Jamada Muwandiki highlighted how hunger distracts children from learning basics like reading and math.

Schools will adopt a ‘home-grown’ approach by establishing gardens for self-sufficiency, cutting costs and teaching agriculture. Community participation is key, with parents asked to contribute items like half a kilogram of beans, three kilograms of maize, Shs500, and firewood.

District Education Officer Richard Wako and Resident District Commissioner Huzairi Kimbugwe emphasize sensitisation to boost parental buy-in, addressing past low engagement at schools like Nakisenye Primary with 1,814 pupils. Officials believe fed children will show better performance and discipline.

Budaka’s recent exams saw an 85.4% pass rate among 5,389 candidates, but gaps remain, with 41 schools recording no Division One passes.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)