WFP starts feeding campaign

Feb 24, 2009

THE World Food Programme (WFP) and the Ministryof Education and Sports have launched a packed lunch campaign for Universal Primary Education children in Amuru district.

By Chris Ocowun
and Conan Businge


THE World Food Programme (WFP) and the Ministryof Education and Sports have launched a packed lunch campaign for Universal Primary Education children in Amuru district.

The campaign was launched by the education minister, Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, at Otwee parish in Amuru sub-county on Monday.

She called upon parents to provide packed lunch to children to improve performance in class.

“Since we started the UPE programme, Ugandans have been asking what needs to be done to improve performance. The packed lunch campaign will answer that question,” Bitamazire said.

“I am going to mobilise parents to give packed lunch to their children. Let us link hunger with learning and good health,” Bitamazire said.
She disclosed that in many parts of the country, children ate left-overs.

“The Government shall pay teachers’ salaries, provide books, mobilise money to build more classrooms and inject more money into the inspection of schools. We shall do everything possible to improve the quality of education,” Bitamazire added.

She disclosed that sh2.5b had been earmarked for inspection of schools.

Bitamazire also urged teachers to focus on classroom work.
The country director, Stanlake Samkange, said the WFP had put aside $100m to buy food from Ugandan farmers.

He urged the community to utilise their fertile land so that the WFP could purchase the surplus food.
The Gulu district chairman, Norbert Mao, said: “The best thing that a parent can do to a child is to provide education.”

“Being a mother or a father is a full time job. Give packed lunch to your children. Do not do it because the Government is forcing you to, but do it because it is a good thing,” Mao added.

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