Mbale, Uganda | Hon. Biara Emmanuel Wepukhulu has pledged to expand support for orphaned children under the Biara Foundation Scholarship Programme following a visit to beneficiaries at Yoweri Museveni Primary School in Namatala, Mbale District.
The ten pupils, all survivors from the Bulambuli resettlement camp who lost their parents in past landslides, are among vulnerable children receiving education support through the foundation.
The visit was intended to assess the learners’ academic progress and welfare while engaging school administrators on challenges affecting their education.
During a meeting with the school management, the headteacher commended the foundation for paying tuition but noted that several beneficiaries still lack basic scholastic requirements, including school uniforms. He also raised concerns over inadequate access to meals, saying the situation affects the pupils’ concentration, confidence and academic performance.
In response, Hon. Wepukhulu committed to mobilising additional resources to address the learners’ immediate needs.
He said the foundation had previously focused mainly on paying tuition due to limited resources but expressed optimism that more comprehensive support would now be possible following his assumption of public office.
“Education is one of the strongest foundations for transforming lives and communities. No child should miss an opportunity to learn because of circumstances beyond their control,” Wepukhulu said.
Teachers described the scholarship programme as a lifeline for children who would otherwise struggle to remain in school and appealed for continued support to meet their basic welfare needs.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the visit, saying it had given them renewed hope and motivation to continue with their studies.
School administrators, teachers and pupils also offered prayers for Hon. Wepukhulu, thanking him for supporting children affected by tragedy and giving them an opportunity to rebuild their lives through education.
The Biara Foundation Scholarship Programme supports vulnerable learners, particularly children affected by disasters and other hardships, with the aim of keeping them in school and improving their future prospects.
