By Ritah Mukasa
Kotido district, located in Karamoja sub-region is a generally dry area, which is why it is prone to drought and dry season hazards. For this, many families are struggling to grow food.
The situation is worse in schools and this affects enrollment and retention but some parents have stepped up to help keep their children in school.
For example, at Kanamwar Community Primary School, over 450 pupils receive a meal whenever they show up at the school because 50 parents cultivate food in the school garden that sits on five acres of land. They grow sweet potatoes, peas, sorghum, maize and ground nuts.
Mathew Lowapeto, the chairperson of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) who spearheaded the food security initiative says, the garden has helped to keep children in school.
Before, the enrolment was low and the dropout rate was high mainly because it was hard to keep hungry children in class.
“Food shortage stunted this school for many years. We decided to step up as parents because we want our children to compete with those in urban areas,” he says.
Lowapeto mobilized free seedlings and 25 families to set up the garden in 2021.
On how they divide labour, he says, parents devout two days; Tuesdays and Thursdays in the school garden. They till the land, plant, weed and harvest together. They also water regularly; while some parents do it in the morning, another group comes in the evening. They use water from the school tap.
“We wasted many years begging for aid from donors until we realized that move is not sustainable. We are happy to grow food for our children,” he says.
However, Lowapeto asks for more seedlings and manure from good Samaritans plus a store and fence to secure the garden from thieves.
Josephine Adong 38, who has two children in the school feels happy whenever she finds the children playing on full stomachs.
“It’s my prayer that these children become powerful people tomorrow. We shall walk with our heads high knowing we contributed to keeping them in school,” she says.
Mathew Modo, a teacher at the school says food security makes the teachers’ work easy. Teaching hungry children is difficult.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Some of the mothers weeding the potato garden. Photos by Ritah Mukasa
