“The core mission of this initiative is to ensure that students should not go hungry at Makerere University,” he said.
Hunger is emerging as another major obstacle to academic success at Makerere University, with financially struggling students reportedly skipping meals or going without lunch as they struggle to meet the cost of living while pursuing their studies.
The situation has prompted the Rotary Club of Makerere Passport to launch a food support programme targeting 206 students who cannot afford regular meals, particularly during examination periods when adequate nutrition is critical for concentration and academic performance.
Dubbed Food for Peace, the initiative was launched on Wednesday at Makerere University, with Rotary International Director for Zone 22 (Africa), Emmanuel Katongole, pledging sh5m annually towards its sustainability.
The first phase will benefit 206 students identified through a needs assessment conducted by the Makerere Rotary Peace Centre. More than 200 students who participated in the assessment cited lack of food as one of the challenges affecting their welfare.
Makerere University Vice Chancellor and President of the Rotary Club of Makerere Passport, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, said financial difficulties were forcing some students to pursue their education under difficult conditions, with many struggling to afford basic necessities.
“Hundreds of students drop out of Makerere University every year due to financial constraints. The reality for those who remain is sometimes tougher, for they struggle to survive,” Nawangwe said.
He noted that the situation becomes particularly challenging during examinations, when students need adequate food to maintain concentration and perform well.
Nawangwe said the university had become concerned about reports of students skipping meals and approached the Rotary Club to develop an intervention.
“The core mission of this initiative is to ensure that students should not go hungry at Makerere University,” he said.
Katongole, who was the chief guest at the launch, said access to education should not be determined by an individual’s financial circumstances.
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Drawing from his own experience of facing difficulties while pursuing education, he said support from well-wishers could make the difference between abandoning one’s dreams and achieving them.
“This project will help create more Katongoles,” he said.
He pledged to contribute sh5m annually towards the initiative, starting this year, promising to continue supporting it for as long as he lived or until the project ended.
“I will continue supporting it for as long as I live or until the project ends,” Katongole said.
The 92nd Makerere Guild President, Kadondi Gracious, welcomed the intervention, saying it would provide relief to students worried about how to meet their basic needs during examinations.
She said students had previously petitioned Parliament over welfare concerns and welcomed efforts by the university community to address some of the challenges.
“This is not just charity; it is restoring hope to Makerereans who were unsure of how they were going to manoeuvre through the examination period without lunch,” she said.
The Rotary Club says it intends to expand the programme beyond the current examination period by mobilising more partners and establishing a sustainable funding mechanism.
The club’s secretary, Associate Professor Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, said the initiative was designed as a long-term intervention rather than a one-off donation.
She said the organisers were seeking to raise an initial Shs10m to support the first phase, adding that contributions above the target would be used to reach more students and build resources for subsequent semesters.
Makerere Dean of Students Dr Winfred Kabumbuli welcomed the partnership and pledged to mobilise support from within the university community.
The Rotary Club has appealed to university alumni, companies, development partners and individuals to support the programme through financial contributions, food supplies and other forms of assistance.
Those wishing to contribute can send their donations through NCBA Uganda Limited to the Rotary Club of Makerere Passport accounts:
- Uganda shillings: 228129200017
- US dollars: 228129200027
- SWIFT code: CBAFUGKA
The organisers say sustained support will be key to ensuring that more financially disadvantaged students receive assistance in subsequent semesters and that hunger does not stand in the way of their academic ambitions.