By Moses Lokeris
The deputy head teacher of Secondary School John Bosco Bongomin has warned that the closure of the World Food Program (WFP) feeding initiative will worsen students’ retention and completion rate in the Karamoja Sub-region.
The World Food Program has for more than six decades supported learning institutions in Karamoja, a region perennially affected by food insecurity and malnutrition, factors often blamed for poor academic performance.
However, the school feeding initiative ended on January 1, 2026, leaving thousands of learners from about 30 secondary schools and six tertiary institutions starving.
The withdrawal of World Food Program support has forced the affected schools to hike fees in order to sustain the feeding program, a move which has faced backlash from a section of parents.
John Bosco Bongomin is now calling on the government to implement a national school feeding program to address irregular attendance and high dropout rates.
He explained that daily school meals provide a strong incentive for learners to study, boosting enrollment and reducing dropouts.
According to Bongomin, the dropout rate in Karamoja currently stands at 40 percent.
Stella Alupo, a parent from Lopeduuru cell in Kotido Municipality, stated that the withdrawal of World Food Program assistance is an eye-opener for parents in the region, urging them to take responsibility of feeding their children while at school.
John Kay Lopeyo, another resident of Namejo echoed similar sentiments, calling on LCV Chairpersons and Members of Parliament to demand the government to support the feeding program in all schools across the region.
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