On September 1st, 2024, during the Mother’s Union celebrations in Luwero, the State Minister for Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Museveni, asked parents to provide their children with eggs and milk while they went to school.
This suggestion sounded unrealistic to parents and educationists in the country because it was based on a lack of research and contradicted what was on the ground. This was because parents were misinformed about what the government’s responsibilities are when their children are enrolled into UPE scchools.
On Thursday, 4 December 2024, Mrs. Museveni said that the government is considering providing learners in universal primary schools with lunch for starters in the drafted national feeding policy while at the State House in Nakasero.
This is included in the 2025-2026 budget, with also the staff quarters to be constructed to ensure standard accommodation of teachers in the schools for quality delivery.
“In terms of educational resources, the government is investing in shs. 9.79 billion to produce 9.71 million textbooks for the 2024/2025 school year. Since 2021, we have invested over 60 billion to provide 25.28 million textbooks.” said Mrs. Museveni.
116 secondary schools are expected to be expanded by the Ministry of Education and Sports and six Technical and vocational education training centers soon. This is to address the increased school dropouts of children after primary school, with the majority lacking where to go for the next level.
By 2025, 114 seed schools are expected to be done with an addition of more 144 schools, as noted by Mrs.
Museveni.
According to research from Save the Children International Uganda and Uganda Debt Network, over 70% of children under UPE study on hungry stomachs.
Food that’s grown in different regions is what the students will be fed; for instance, the government will buy from the producers of milk and eggs in the Western region.
