By KT Reporter
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki, has called on stakeholders not to lose sight of the importance of prioritizing girls’ education, emphasizing its immense benefits for both individuals and society as a whole.Buzeki highlighted that educating a girl has a ripple effect, benefiting not only the individual but also her family and community. “What benefits an individual girl, benefits the family. The more you educate a girl, the more you educate a nation,” she noted.
Buzeki made these remarks while officiating at the “I Will Run To Change Her Story” marathon organized by ABSA Bank Uganda. The event, which aims to support girls’ education, took place on Sunday at Millennium Grounds-Lugogo (formerly KCCA Grounds). The marathon featured a 21km run, a 10km run/walk, and a 5km walk for Chief Executive Officers.
The Absa KH3 7 Hills Run 2025 is part of a broader initiative to promote girls’ education and community development. Buzeki commended Absa Bank for organizing the marathon, especially as it took place during an early Sunday morning downpour. She added, “Educating a girl child benefits not only the individual but also their family and ultimately, the nation.”
“This run is a journey towards healthy living. It’s also a great journey to keep the girl child in school. So, this effort is rightly appreciated and is a noble cause. Let’s run for the girl child, let’s keep the girl child in school, and let’s also better our health,” she said.
Buzeki also encouraged the people of Kampala to support KCCA’s efforts in maintaining a cleaner city by reducing waste and reusing materials. “Ensure that you reduce what you put out as waste, ensure that you reuse what you can, and ensure that we are in a cleaner city,” she urged.
The event, in partnership with Kampala Hash House Harriers (KH3), aimed to address issues such as poverty, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and menstrual hygiene, all of which contribute to girls dropping out of school. According to ABSA Bank, in 2024, the bank donated 300 million shillings to support girls’ education and tackle high dropout rates.
The funds were distributed among organizations such as the Joshua Cheptegei Foundation, Baylor College’s DREAMS program, and Amref Health Africa. The Government of Uganda and civil society organizations have launched various initiatives to support girl child education. However, dropout rates remain high, posing challenges for society, families, and the government.
An analysis of figures from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) and the Education and Sports Sector Annual Performance Reports (ESSAPRs) reveals that approximately 42.8% of pupils who start primary school do not complete Primary Seven (P.7). This means nearly 43 out of every 100 pupils drop out before finishing primary school.
The dropout rate is especially concerning for girls, with 46.4% of female pupils dropping out before completing P.7, compared to 44.2% for boys. This gender disparity underscores the additional challenges girls face in continuing their education, such as early marriage and childbearing, which often disrupt their schooling-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
