According to civil society organisations (CSOs), the success of Uganda's nationwide school feeding program hinges on strategic planning and implementation.
A key recommendation is the allocation of sufficient funds within the national budget to ensure the program's sustainability.
Gilbert Musinguzi, the Quality Assurance Manager at Uganda Debt Network (UDN), emphasised during a media briefing at their Kampala office that establishing a dedicated budget line and conducting regular financial audits will enhance transparency and prevent misuse of funds.
"Currently, 67% of children in Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools do not receive meals at school. This gap must be addressed to improve attendance and learning outcomes," he stated.
A study by the World Bank underscores the potential impact of school feeding programs, indicating that they could enhance school enrolment by up to 29% in Uganda.
Furthermore, data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) reveals that malnutrition affects 33% of children under five years, a figure that underscores the importance of nutritional support for school-going children.
Currently, over 64% of school-going children spend their day without food, significantly compromising their ability to participate effectively in school activities.
The program could also have significant economic benefits. Research by the Global Child Nutrition Foundation suggests that every dollar invested in school feeding programs yields up to $9 in economic returns due to improved health, education, and productivity.
Aloyo Monica, a primary six pupil at Tekibur Primary School in Amuru District, welcomed the proposed program, noting, "It will reduce school dropouts, improve our health, and boost performance." Her head teacher, Atim Alex, echoed her sentiments, adding that the initiative could significantly increase enrolment and retention. "In our district alone, over 45% of children miss classes because of hunger," Atim shared.
Keneth Asiimwe, an economist at ESBAG, urged the government to address corruption as a risk. "Corruption and misuse of funds pose significant risks to this program.
The government must make corruption a highly risky endeavour by implementing strict accountability measures," he said.
Infrastructure deficits also present a challenge. According to the Ministry of Education and Sports, only 27% of schools have functional kitchens, while less than 15% have adequate storage facilities for food supplies.
CSOs called for effective collaboration among ministries, local governments, and partners to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure smooth coordination.
Esther Mufumba, Programs Manager at UDN, stressed the need to increase financing for agriculture to enhance local food production. "We commend the government for increasing the industrialisation budget by 4% to Shs 1.89 trillion in the current FY2024/25.
However, for the school feeding program to succeed, agricultural financing must increase from the current average of 5% to the 10% recommended under the Malabo Declaration on Agriculture in Africa (2014)," she explained.
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CSOs also urged the Ministry of Education to prioritise finalising and operationalising the draft School Feeding Policy.
"This will provide a clear framework to guide the implementation of sustainable and equitable school feeding programs," Mufumba added. Additional recommendations include establishing national and regional food reserves, expediting the approval of the Food and Nutrition Bill 2024, and enhancing monitoring and evaluation processes.
The program's ripple effects could be transformative. For instance, reducing hunger could improve the performance of over 15 million school-aged children, helping Uganda achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to education and hunger.
According to UNICEF, such programs also promote gender equality by improving girls' school attendance, especially in rural areas where dropout rates are as high as 40%.
