Uganda Invests UGX2.5 Billion to Boost Home-Grown School Feeding in Karamoja

Uganda Strengthens Commitment to School Meals with New UGX2.5 Billion Contribution for Karamoja Region.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a UGX2.5 billion (US$680,000) contribution from the Government of Uganda to bolster Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) programmes in the Karamoja region of north-east Uganda. The investment aims to support both children’s education and local farmers.

The WFP currently provides daily nutritious meals to 250,000 children in 320 schools across Karamoja through its HGSF programmes. These meals, sourced locally from smallholder farmers and school gardens, promote better nutrition, increase school attendance, and reduce dropout rates.

The five-year investment is part of the “Karamoja Feeds Karamoja” initiative, a government-led programme launched in 2014. Implemented through the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports, the initiative purchases food directly from local farmer organizations. This approach stimulates smallholder production, boosts the local economy, and supports community development.

Hon. Dr. Peter Lokeris, Minister for Karamoja Affairs, emphasized the program’s dual impact on education and economic growth: “By purchasing food directly from farmer organizations in Karamoja, we aim to stimulate smallholder production and boost the local economy. This groundbreaking initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to fostering sustainable development in Karamoja.”

Marcus Prior, WFP’s Acting Country Representative in Uganda, praised the government’s commitment to sustainable solutions: “School feeding is a powerful investment in the future—nourishing children with healthy, locally-sourced meals while empowering smallholder farmers and strengthening communities. By working with the Government of Uganda, we are creating sustainable solutions that drive better education, nutrition, and long-term food security for all.”

This initiative aligns with Uganda’s commitments under the School Meals Coalition, a global, government-led partnership of over 100 countries supported by WFP. Uganda announced its national commitments to school meals in April 2024. This new contribution translates those commitments into action by leveraging national resources to improve children’s health, education, and food security.