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The Effectiveness of School Feeding Programs on Student Attendance and Performance: A Case Study of Karamoja Region, Uganda

This study examined the effectiveness of school feeding programs on student attendance and academic performance
in the Karamoja region, Uganda. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the relationship
between school feeding programs, student attendance, and academic performance. The findings revealed that school
feeding programs had a significant positive impact on student attendance, with a regression coefficient of 0.358 and a
p-value of 0.004, indicating that students in schools with feeding programs were more likely to attend regularly.
Furthermore, school feeding programs were found to significantly enhance student academic performance, as shown
by a coefficient of 5.124 and a p-value of 0.009, demonstrating that students receiving school meals performed better
academically. However, challenges such as logistical constraints, inadequate food supply, and poor infrastructure
negatively influenced the implementation of these programs, with logistical inefficiencies showing a negative
coefficient of -0.322 and a p-value of 0.042. The study concluded that school feeding programs played a crucial role
in improving student attendance and academic performance in the Karamoja region. However, the effectiveness of
these programs depended on addressing key operational challenges, including food shortages, infrastructure
limitations, and funding constraints. Schools with better food distribution mechanisms and stronger community
involvement recorded higher attendance rates and improved academic performance among students. Based on these
findings, the study recommended that the government and development partners increase funding for school feeding
programs to ensure sustainability and efficiency. Enhancing community participation in food supply chains, improving
school infrastructure, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation mechanisms were also suggested as strategies to
enhance the overall effectiveness of school feeding initiatives. Additionally, integrating school feeding programs with
local agricultural production and providing conditional cash transfers for vulnerable households were identified as
viable solutions to support long-term program success.

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