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Uganda: Law Makers Disagree on School Feeding
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New Vision (Kampala)
7 May 2008
Posted to the web 8 May 2008
Joyce Namutebi And John Odyek
Kampala
Parents or the Government, who takes responsibility for feeding children in Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools? MPs failed to agree yesterday.
Debating the Education Bill 2007, Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi (FDC) said the Government should feed the children.
Pointing at the MPs, he said: "Nobody here is taking children to schools where they do not pay lunch." In agreement, Dokolo MP Felix Okot Ogong said the state must provide for the poor, and wondered where the sh3,700b annual tax revenue went. However, state minister for Luweero Triangle Nyombi Thembo insisted the parents must shoulder the burden of feeding the children. Moroto Municipality's Sammy Loote (independent) said parents should ensure that the children were given food. "A child that is not fed doesn't pay attention and there is no learning."
Margaret Baba Diri (NRM) said the responsibilities of the Government and the parents should be spelt out in the Bill. She wanted the definitions of 'free' and 'compulsory' education clarified. On his part, Stephen Kaliba (NRM Fort Portal Municipality) opposed the idea of schools charging extra fees for food, which he said had contributed to a high drop-out rate in his constituency.
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