By Yusuf Obbo
The school feeding programme in government-aided primary schools in Iganga Municipality is facing mounting challenges, with teachers reporting that some learners are spending the school day without meals after parents reportedly stopped contributing towards feeding following remarks by Minister for Local Government Balaam Barugahara.
The concerns have prompted Iganga Municipality Member of Parliament, Hon. Abed Nasser Mudiobole, to rally fellow legislators to intervene, warning that the situation could undermine learners’ health, concentration and academic performance.
Mudiobole, who also serves as Deputy Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, says school administrators raised the concerns during his recent visits to government-aided primary schools across his constituency.
According to the legislator, several schools have reported difficulties sustaining their feeding arrangements after some parents reportedly stopped contributing towards meals, leaving learners to bear the consequences.
He revealed that Members of Parliament have engaged Minister Balaam over complaints from schools, calling for an urgent resolution that safeguards learners’ welfare while addressing concerns surrounding school feeding contributions.
Teachers are now asking the minister to clarify his position and withdraw any remarks they believe discouraged parents from contributing towards meals for their children.
Kiganda Tabika, the Deputy Headteacher of Igamba Primary School, described the situation as painful, saying teachers are struggling to teach learners who spend the day hungry.
“It’s so painful teaching hungry children. Parents stopped paying for their own children because Balaam stopped them, and now it’s the children who are suffering. Parliament should help us ask the minister to withdraw his statement,” Tabika said.
The teachers warn that hunger can affect learners’ classroom participation, concentration and ability to perform well academically, urging government and other education stakeholders to find a lasting solution before the situation deteriorates further.
Mudiobole has pledged his support for efforts to resolve the dispute, emphasising that school feeding is a collective responsibility involving parents, schools and other stakeholders.
He urged parents not to abandon their role in supporting the feeding of their children, arguing that providing meals is an important part of creating a conducive learning environment.
The legislator maintains that disagreements over school feeding should not be allowed to compromise the welfare and academic progress of learners.
However, Minister Balaam Barugahara’s clarification is needed to establish the precise context of his remarks and the government’s position on parents contributing towards school feeding in government-aided primary schools.
Meanwhile, Mudiobole has stepped up his education motivation programme, visiting seven government-aided primary schools in Iganga Municipality to encourage Primary Seven candidates preparing for their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), which begin next week.
The schools visited include Iganga Municipal Primary School, Igamba Primary School, Noor Annex Primary School, Buligo Primary School, Nakavule Primary School, Kasokoso Primary School and Noor Islamic Primary School.
During the visits, the legislator interacted with candidates, encouraging them to remain focused, work hard and approach their examinations with confidence as they prepare to complete their primary education.
As part of the initiative, Mudiobole provided mathematical sets and school shoes and offered support towards shoes and uniforms for candidates he found lacking these essential requirements.
In a further effort to motivate academic excellence, the MP pledged to reward candidates from the seven schools who attain first grade in their PLE examinations with mattresses, bedsheets, blankets and suitcases.
The reward programme is intended to encourage learners to work harder and recognise those who excel academically.
Mudiobole urged the candidates to take their studies seriously, emphasising that preparation, discipline and determination are essential for achieving a better future.
He encouraged the learners to understand that their future depends partly on the effort they invest in their education today.
The MP’s school visits have placed both the school feeding debate and learner motivation at the centre of education concerns in Iganga Municipality, with teachers calling for urgent action to ensure children can study in an environment that supports their wellbeing.
As the P7 candidates prepare for their examinations, school administrators hope that the feeding concerns will be addressed through engagement between Parliament, the responsible ministry, parents and school leaders.
For the teachers, the immediate priority remains ensuring that learners are not left hungry while pursuing their education.
