The Prime Minister of Uganda has launched the “Enough Campaign,” aimed at combating hunger and malnutrition in the country.
The Prime Minister, represented by the 3rd Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio, Rt. Hon. Rukia Nakadama Isanga, praised World Vision for initiating this effort to address a challenge that is significantly impacting education in Uganda.
“The Enough Campaign is well aligned with global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2), Africa Agenda 2063, and the East African Community Vision 2050,” Nakadama noted. SDG 2 focuses on creating a world free of hunger by 2030.
According to the World Health Organization’s report, the global issue of hunger and food insecurity has shown a worrying increase since 2015, a trend worsened by a combination of factors, including the pandemic, conflict, climate change, and deepening inequalities.
Nakadama emphasized that initiatives like the Enough Campaign are crucial to achieving Uganda’s Vision 2040, as outlined in the National Development Plan III and its upcoming successor plan.
The launch event took place at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, where several children highlighted the need for proper feeding, both at school and at home.
Nakadama remarked that although Uganda is blessed with abundant food, it is unfortunate that some children still go hungry, whether at school or at home. “What explanation can we give for having wasted, malnourished, and obese children when we are supposed to be the food basket of the region?” Nakadama questioned.
Currently, Uganda has at least 3.2% of children underweight, while 3.4% are obese. Nakadama stated that the government would collaborate closely with World Vision to ensure the program achieves its intended goals and objectives.
Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, the Minister of State for Primary Education, stated that according to the 2008 Education Act, feeding children is the sole responsibility of parents or guardians. “The law is very clear that feeding of children is the responsibility of parents or guardians because the government pays teachers’ salaries, buys textbooks, and provides other essentials to facilitate learning,” Kaducu said.
However, she welcomed the Enough Campaign, noting that it would address existing gaps in feeding both in-school and out-of-school children. Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, emphasized the importance of community involvement for the success of such initiatives. “If you want this intervention to succeed, community involvement is crucial because they need to own it and view it as their responsibility,” Atwine said.
Joseph Ssewungu, the Shadow Education Minister, argued that the government needs to develop a policy to implement the 2008 Education Act effectively.
“We have no policy on feeding children, and the government knows this but is avoiding its responsibility. Children will continue to drop out of school if the government does not establish a policy on feeding,” Ssewungu asserted.
Jeremiah Nyanga, the National Director of World Vision Uganda, said that the organization aims to end hunger and malnutrition among children, with an investment of $15 million over two years.
The campaign, led by World Vision Uganda, seeks to ensure that children, whether in school or out, receive adequate nutritious food to support their growth and academic performance.
“A life of plenty for every child has always been possible, but that is not the reality. Every single day, children are being forced to go without food,” Nyanga stated. Statistics show that up to 783 million people worldwide faced hunger in 2022. Alarmingly, there is no precise figure indicating how many of those affected by hunger and malnutrition are children.
Child hunger is at its worst in generations, with children bearing the brunt of an unequal food system disrupted by conflicts and climate change. Every child deserves access to the food needed to develop a healthy body and mind.
Every family should have the right to provide sufficient and nutritious food for their children. Immediate action is necessary to address this critical issue.
Comments are closed.