UNICEF donates UGX 26 million to support girl-child education

25 July 2025, 9:46 am

By Baker Okello

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), through its Gender for Development Programme, has today donated 26 million shillings to support girl-child education at Iceme Girls Secondary School in Oyam District.

The initiative, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports, aims to ensure equitable access to education for all children—particularly girls and other vulnerable groups.

In an exclusive interview with Radio Wa, the school’s headmistress, Sr Joyce Moriya Dayo, confirmed the financial support and expressed deep appreciation to UNICEF for the timely intervention. She said the assistance would go a long way in reducing school dropout rates, especially among girls affected by financial constraints.

Sr Dayo also appealed for the programme’s expansion to reach more needy children in the community.

Mr Geoffrey Alot, a parent from Boro-Boro in Lira City, noted that many parents have struggled to raise school fees for their children. He commended UNICEF for alleviating that burden and encouraged the organisation to expand the initiative.

Akullo Betty from Oyam District and Awio Ketty from Acokora encouraged the beneficiaries to work hard and excel academically to honour the support.

Margaret Iwalingat, a parent from the Teso region, praised UNICEF for enabling her daughter to stay in school. She urged more parents to enrol their daughters at Iceme Girls Secondary School to benefit from such programmes.

Meanwhile, Atim Franka, a Senior One student, together with other beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to UNICEF for intervening where many parents have struggled. They appealed for continued support, citing school fees as a major cause of girls dropping out of school.

A total of 99 students have benefited from the donation, each receiving 264,000 shillings to cover their school fees.