education 22 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Ugandan Children Struggle with Hunger in Class, Impeding Education
A significant majority of Ugandan primary school children lack proper meals at school, severely impacting their concentration and cognitive development. The current legal framework inadvertently prevents schools from providing food, creating a critical gap in national educational efforts. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/letters/school-children-need-more-than-just-books-and-classrooms-5505764
As the school bell rings for lunch in many Ugandan institutions, a stark reality unfolds: while some students retrieve packed meals, many others are left with nothing, resorting to playing to distract from their hunger.
A food scientist draws a parallel between a smartphone and a child’s ability to learn, likening education to software and the child’s body and brain to the hardware. Attempting to impart knowledge to a hungry child is akin to running complex programs on a device with a dead battery – it simply won’t function.
When a child’s blood sugar plummets due to lack of food, their brain is deprived of glucose, its primary fuel. Expecting such a child to grasp complex concepts is futile, as their physical needs are unmet.
alarmingly, a report by the National Planning Authority indicates that 66 percent of primary school children in Uganda receive no food at school. Furthermore, statistics from the Uganda National Bureau of Statistics reveal that approximately 29 percent of children are stunted due to malnutrition, which directly affects their brain development.
The legal landscape presents a significant obstacle. While the Education Act of 2008 mandates that parents provide food for their children, UPE schools are prohibited from charging compulsory fees for meals. This leaves headteachers in a difficult position, unable to legally solicit funds for food, while many parents overlook or refuse to pack meals for their children.
To address this critical issue, a shift in perspective is necessary. Food should be viewed not as a luxury, but as an essential school supply, as vital as books or pens. Parents must prioritize providing their children with adequate nutrition.
Simple, energy-rich packed lunches can sustain children through afternoon lessons. Focusing on providing the necessary physical nourishment will allow educational content to be effectively absorbed, ensuring a brighter future for Uganda.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)