Part I - Ministry Of Education and Sports

In the primary subsector, since the introduction of UPE, Uganda has registered exceptional increase in
enrolment in primary schools. During the FY under review, the sector continued to pay capitation
grants for pupils under the Universal Primary Education Programme at a rate of 7,000/= per
pupil.Funds amounting to 49,683,789,000/= were paid for 7,099,083 pupils in government aided
schools throughout the country in the period under review.
(ii) Payment of PLE Fees
In FY 2011/12 government paid fees amounting to 5,399,600,000/= for Primary Leaving Examinations
(PLE). Funds were remitted to UNEB and registration was paid for 446,508 PLE candidates.
(iii) Payment of Capitation grants for pre­service and in­service students in PTCs.
During the period under review the the subsector paid capitation grants amounting to
11,839,931,000/=for 16,239 pre­service and 2,000 in­service students in 45 PTCs.
(iv) Food distribution under the World Food Programme
In the period under review in order to increase access,the United Nations World Food Programme
(UNWFP) has continued to distribute food to 245 primary schools in Karamoja. In addition, the
service was extended to all secondary schools, while the scheme for Early Childhood Development
Centers is still in the pilot stage in Kaabong and Kotido districts. The food supplies have been
instrumental in boosting enrolment and improving retention at all levels. Unfortunately, for the
greater part of 2011/2012, WFP experienced serious food pipeline disruptions, resulting in pupils
being served only porridge. The outlook for the future is still uncertain, WFP expects the US
Department of Agriculture to commit themselves to food supplies to cover 2012/13 at least.
(v) Supply of Vegetable seeds, fruit trees and wood­ lot seedlings to schools under WFP
The Government of Uganda funding under the school feeding project is partly used to popularise
agriculture in the minds of the youth as a viable diversification away from cattle keeping as the sole
livelihood of the Karamoja sub­region. To this end the Ministry’s Project Management Unit
encourages school gardening by assisting schools with bush clearing and distribution of seeds and
other agro inputs.
The vegetable seeds distributed include 310kgs Gobe; 400 tins (20 kgs) of Sukuma Wiki; 100 tins (5kgs)
onions; 600 tins (30kgs) cabbage; 890kgs beans; 525 kgs maize; 150 tins (7.5kgs) eggplant, and 140 tins
(7kgs) tomatoes. In the interests of environment conservation, and to provide fruit and shed trees in
schools, 11,850 Neem and 10, 950 Acacia tree seedlings were distributed for shed, and 2,161 fruit
seedlings were distributed (1,101 orange and 1,060 mangoes). Funds budgeted for 300 bags of cassava
cuttings came at an unsuitable time for cassava planting. These funds were therefore used to procure
more of the other seeds than had been budgeted for.
In addition, 120 acres of land for 30 schools were ploughed. 2,800 assorted hand tools (i.e. Spray
pumps, pangas, watering cans) were also given out to schools and 12,376 Tree seedlings were
supplied to 48 selected schools in Amudat, Napak, Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Kotido, Abim, and
Kaabong.The project in addition, renovated WFP Moroto offices and constructed a 3­stance pit latrine.
All these initiatives were undertaken to encourage pupils to go to school thereby, improving access,
ESSAPR FY 2011/12 to inform the 19 th ESSR – OCTOBER 2012
38