East African Gazette
Wakiso
It was joy and passion at Islam University in Uganda Female Campus Kabojja on Sunday June 30, 2024 when hundreds of both non-Muslim and Muslim turned up to run as they raised cash for Girl Child Education.
The 16 Kilometer Girl Child Run attracted over 4000 people who ran under the theme ‘’ Miles for Smiles, Support Girl Education ‘’aimed at raising over 250 million Uganda shilling to facilitate 320 girls from poor families to have a chance to complete their University Education.
Speaking during flagging off the run at IUIU Female Campus Kabojja Wakiso, Balaam Barugahara, the Minister for Youth and Children Affairs said many girls in rural schools, face a number of challenges including menstruation, and in most cases, they are forced to miss school for several days every month while others drop out of schools due to lack of sanitary pads so helping them with school fees and other equipment is timely..
“Over 50 % of Ugandan population is under age 17 years so let us together promote inclusivity in education for all and contribute to national development by addressing cultural and societal factors that lead to high university dropout rates among female students’’ said Barugahara
Prof. Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda, the IUIU Rector, said that the annual event is designed to support girl child education by ensuring that talented individuals are able to stay in school through financial assistance for those who cannot afford tuition fees.
“We are targeting underprivileged girls in Eastern region, west Nile, central region and others from poor families to have a chance to complete their University Education’’ Gyagenda
According to Baligeya Afan Afan Wakinyankali, the Marketing manager of IUIU said they identified those districts after a survey by the University and discovered many girls (60%) don’t finish their university, and end up being married off by tender age.
‘’The initiatives intend to give hope to unprivileged girls finish their university’’
He noted that saving Uganda’s young generation is the responsibility of every Ugandan. “Leaving in harmony means helping each other and it is the only way God can give us blessings,” he added.
He urged other leaders from different religious spheres to join and support the project of creating a peaceful stay of young girls in schools.
He noted that girl child education builds capacity for Country’s development, saying mothers are the futures of the Nation, educating a girl child will strengthen our economies and reduce inequality hence building a better future for themselves and their families.
The 2024 3rd Edition of Run for the Girl Child Education was sponsored by standard chartered bank, Stanbic Bank, Tropical Bank, Sumz, and UBA Bank among others
The event also attracted different dignitaries Rathiyyah Namakula, the Secretary for Women and Children Affair at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) who represented the Mufti of Uganda Shaban Ramathan Mubajje, others were schools, institutions, individual, and organisation among others
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