Hundreds of pupils in Lira city are reportedly abandoning classes due to hunger, as schools across northern Uganda struggle with a deepening meals crisis that education officials say is threatening learning and attendance.
Teachers in several Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools say increasing numbers of children attend lessons without breakfast or lunch, leaving many weak, distracted and unable to concentrate in class. Some pupils reportedly leave school before afternoon lessons begin in search of food, while others fail to report to school altogether.
The situation has sparked concern among local leaders and education stakeholders, who warn that prolonged hunger among learners could worsen already declining academic performance in parts of northern Uganda.
According to school administrators, the problem is most severe among children from vulnerable households where parents are unable to afford daily meals due to rising poverty and unstable incomes.
Although schools encourage parents to contribute food or provide lunch for their children, many families reportedly cannot sustain the requirement.
Education officials in the Lango sub-region say hunger-related absenteeism has become increasingly common, particularly in rural communities where economic hardship continues to affect household livelihoods.
Some teachers say learners often become restless during afternoon hours, while others completely lose interest in lessons after spending the day without food. Administrators argue that the lack of school meals is now directly affecting literacy levels, classroom participation and overall learner retention.
Community leaders have called for urgent intervention from both government and humanitarian organizations to support school feeding programmes, especially in areas with high poverty levels.
The crisis has also revived discussions on the need for a national school feeding programme to support vulnerable learners across Uganda. Education advocates argue that providing meals in schools would not only improve attendance but also enhance concentration, health and academic performance among pupils.
Northern Uganda continues to recover from years of conflict and economic disruption that weakened livelihoods and strained access to basic social services. Local leaders say without immediate support, many more children risk dropping out of school due to hunger.
Education experts warn that unless the feeding crisis is addressed, efforts to improve education standards and reduce dropout rates in the region could face major setbacks.
