Imagine lush tomato plants thriving under the sun, tended by students with bright, happy faces. This is the scene at Kikagate Primary School in Isingiro District, where the school garden is a source of pride, nourishment, and hope.
How school gardens are keeping children in classrooms
The students show off what they have grown. Not only does the garden provide fresh, nutritious food, but it also helps keep them in school. With guidance from their teacher, the students nurture the garden, ensuring a steady supply of vegetables to sustain them during school hours.
The students show off what they have grown. Not only does the garden provide fresh, nutritious food, but it also helps keep them in school. With guidance from their teacher, the students nurture the garden, ensuring a steady supply of vegetables to sustain them during school hours.
Turning things around
A few years ago, many of these students would not have been in school at this time. Hunger kept them at home or forced them to drop out, unable to focus in class on empty stomachs.
At Kikagate Primary School, where both local and refugee students share classrooms, food insecurity was a major barrier to education. Many students would leave school early or miss lessons entirely due to lack of food at home. As a result, school attendance suffered.
“The children used to struggle, especially in the afternoons,” says Livingstone Mugisha, the school headteacher. “They would doze off in class, unable to focus because they were hungry. Now, they can stay throughout the day and learn properly.”
At Onigo Primary School in Adjumani District, hunger kept many students from attending classes. Phillip Owen Mondia, chairperson of the school management committee, recalls how hungry children struggled to concentrate - especially in the afternoons - causing many to drop out.
Seeing results
With support from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), these schools have transformed their approach to education. Through the SESBiLL project, school feeding programmes were introduced, encouraging more students to attend. The Strengthening Education Systems and Bridging Learning Loss (SESBiLL) project supports vulnerable children in Uganda by improving education access and quality.
The gardens provide fresh vegetables for school meals, ensuring students get the nourishment they need to focus and learn.
“Hungry children struggle to concentrate, and this affects their performance,” says Monida. “Before, we had issues with school attendance, but since the feeding programme was introduced, more students are staying in class.”
With flourishing gardens, students not only enjoy nutritious meals but also gain valuable hands-on agricultural skills. At Kikagate Primary School, they proudly showcase their harvest, beaming with pride at the fresh produce they have grown. The experience is both educational and practical, equipping them with knowledge that will benefit them long after they leave the classroom.
Communities helping out
The success of the school gardens is driven by strong community support. At Onigo Primary School, the School Management Committee plays a key role, overseeing the garden’s development and upkeep while ensuring funds are used effectively.
At Kikagate Primary School, parents actively support gardening and harvesting, eager to contribute. Headteacher Livingstone Mugisha explains that with initial funding from NRC, the school established its garden. Now, they grow vegetables and purchase grains to ensure the children have enough to eat.
This programme is generously supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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