Kamuli, Uganda: First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has directed all government-aided schools to establish food gardens and stop cultivating sugarcane on school land, saying the move will strengthen school feeding programmes and improve learners’ welfare.
Kadaga made the call on Thursday, July 30, 2026, while officiating at Uganda’s national commemoration of the Day of the African Child at Nawansaso Primary School in Kamuli District. The celebrations were held under the theme: “Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa.”
Addressing pupils, teachers, district leaders and development partners, Kadaga said government schools should prioritise food production to guarantee sustainable meals for learners.
“We must have gardens in every school. Stop growing sugarcane in government-aided schools and instead plant food that feeds our children. This will ensure a sustainable food supply for children and reduce the burden on parents,” Kadaga said.
She also directed the Kamuli District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to conduct a census of schools without reliable water sources to guide future government and partner interventions aimed at improving access to clean water.
The Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Dr. Mercy Faith Lakisa, used the occasion to call for an end to corporal punishment in schools, urging education institutions to adopt disciplinary approaches that respect children’s rights while maintaining discipline.
“We must end corporal punishment. Let us adopt reasonable disciplinary measures that protect the dignity of the child while maintaining discipline,” Dr. Lakisa said.
She also emphasised the need for adequate washroom facilities in schools, noting that improved sanitation is essential for retaining learners, particularly adolescent girls.
Representing children at the national event, Kyonda Annette, a pupil at Kinaitakali Primary School in Buyende District, appealed to government to prioritise menstrual hygiene management in schools.
“Girls miss school because we do not have changing rooms and sanitary pads. If government provides these, we shall stay in school and perform better,” Annette said.
Her appeal echoed concerns raised by children during the Kamuli District Children’s Parliament earlier this week, where pupils called for greater investment in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in schools.
Kamuli District LCV Chairperson Kaloli Dhizaala presented the district’s current WASH status, saying access to safe water has improved significantly but major challenges remain.
According to Dhizaala, the district currently has 73% safe water coverage, 1,163 boreholes, 1,237 taps
47 public taps, 80% latrine coverage, including 42 inbuilt and 48 traditional toilet facilities and 88 water supply systems managed by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation and the Umbrella for Water and Sanitation.
Despite the progress, he expressed concern over poor handwashing practices. “There is a big problem on usage of hand washing facilities which stands at 44 percent. Hand hygiene and washing are key in infection prevention and control and public health measures, so no one should take it for granted,” Dhizaala said.
He added that rapid population growth, climate change, geographical disparities and water contamination continue to slow progress towards achieving universal access to safe water.
Renewed commitment to children’s welfare
Development partners, including Plan International Uganda, together with the District Education Department, used the celebrations to distribute hygiene materials and sensitise communities on proper handwashing, safe water storage and menstrual hygiene management.
District leaders pledged to work with the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Education and Sports, and development partners to address gaps in water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, with the aim of ensuring no child is denied education because of inadequate WASH facilities.
The Day of the African Child is commemorated every year to honour the children who lost their lives during the 1976 Soweto Uprising in South Africa while demanding equal access to quality education. The day also serves as a platform for African governments and partners to review progress on children’s rights and welfare.
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