Absa Uganda hands over sh300m proceeds from the 2024 Absa KH3 7 Hills Run

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Absa Bank Uganda has officially handed over the sh300m proceeds that was collected from the 2024 Absa 7 Hills Run, an annual charity event organized in partnership with the Kampala Hash House Harriers (KH3) to raise funds to keep the girl child in school.

The proceeds are expected to support some unfortunate children with the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) 2023 analysis showing that an estimated 1.2 million learners enrolled in primary school drop out before completing the primary level.

These high school dropout rates have been attributed to various factors including poverty, early child marriage, and teenage pregnancy among others.

“We believe that education is a right that every child should have access to, regardless of gender. The Absa KH3-7 Hills Run is our way of giving support to the girl child, because their story matters.

We have divided these funds among reputable social enterprises through which we are honored to make a contribution towards tackling a societal challenge; supporting the girl child to pursue an education; providing skills training; and improving menstrual hygiene management,” Mumba Kalifungwa, Managing Director Absa Bank Uganda, highlighted.

Breakdown of funds to beneficiaries

Sh50m has been allocated to the Joshua Cheptegei Foundation to provide school fees bursaries for 22 girls enrolled in the Joshua Cheptegei Junior School.

The school avails full or partial school bursaries to the less privileged or needy children with emphasis to those talented in sports.

Sh20m towards school fee bursaries for vulnerable children through the Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project, which has two schools in Rukungiri and Kanungu.

Sh50m to Baylor College to provide school fees for 111 girls under their Determined Resilient Empowered Aids Free Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) programme in Fort Portal City aimed at reducing vulnerability of the adolescent girls and young women to HIV infection.

Sh30m to Amref Health Africa that will provide 1,875 girls with reusable sanitary pads under their Heroes of Gender programme. Through the programme, Amref assists teen mothers who have dropped out of school by paying school fees and also providing menstrual health, hygiene, and management support.

Sh60m to fund the purchase of bicycles from Windle International, benefiting 266 girls. Windle supports girls to stay in school by providing transportation for girls who have to walk long distances to get to school. These long-distance commutes increase the vulnerability of the girl-child to sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, often leading to high school dropout rates.

Sh90m to World Vision to strengthen menstrual hygiene management in Karamoja, by providing access to clean and safe water benefiting over 5,000 girls.

“Overall, through this support, we intend to contribute towards a reduction in school absenteeism and dropout rates among girls. We are grateful for the overwhelming support of the general public who showed up for the run to support this noble cause.”

Twesigye Jackson Kaguri the founder of Nyaka a community-based foundation supporting orphans and the and vulnerable children in rural southwestern Uganda commended the initiative.

“Nyaka’s mission is to provide free education to children who have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. We provide each child with a comprehensive support system. This is comprised of interrelated programs developed and led by our community, where children are nurtured and protected so they can learn, grow, and thrive,” Twesigye noted.