education 25 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
School Feeding Programs Enhance Retention Amid Refugee Education Crisis in Uganda
Despite funding cuts causing teacher layoffs and poor school conditions in refugee settlements, initiatives like Windle International's school feeding program are improving enrollment, retention, and performance at schools such as Bolingo Primary in Obongi District. Uganda's government plans a national school feeding program starting 2026/2027 to combat high dropout rates linked to hunger. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/how-school-feeding-program-is-boosting-learner-retention-in-refugee-settlements-5403308
Funding reductions by international agencies since early 2025 have severely impacted education in Uganda’s refugee settlements, where about 1 million refugee children reside. This has resulted in 2,000 teacher layoffs, less investment in infrastructure, and no more food supplies from the World Food Programme, worsening hunger and dropout risks, especially in West Nile.
World Vision’s 2025 research highlights how absent school feeding leads to severe hunger, early departures for food searches, malnutrition, fatigue, poor focus, and a cycle of poverty with low enrollment and cognitive issues.
However, programs like Windle International’s, launched in 2018 across Rhino Camp, Imvepi, Palorinya, Palabek, Kiryandongo, and Napak, now provide daily hot meals to 53,123 learners in 30 ECD centers and 36 primary schools.
At Bolingo Primary School in Palorinya settlement, Obongi District, with 2,463 pupils, the feeding and agriculture initiative benefits 2,090 from ECD to P.4. Teacher Mulere Dibere notes boosts in retention, performance, malnutrition reduction, and enrollment.
Testimonials reinforce this: Former street child Clara at Lodoi Primary in Napak stayed after meals ended her single daily eating struggle. Beyogoya Primary headteacher Jennifer Adong in Palabek saw healthier, more attentive pupils who complete full days and excel academically.
Windle’s Executive Director Emmanuel Omara emphasizes that school feeding invests in futures by enabling learning and community resilience.
A June 2025 Ministry of Education report shows 49% of 3-18-year-olds in 37 refugee-hosting sub-counties out of school, with 40% of primary-secondary aged children affected.
In response, the ministry plans a national primary school feeding program for 2026/2027, shifting from the 2008 Education Act’s parent-only responsibility amid 20% rural lunch gaps hurting attendance and cognition.
Source: Daily Monitor