The Ministry of Health (MoH) is planning to work with other government agencies to establish school health and feeding standards as Uganda moves to strengthen health education and address teenage pregnancies and emerging drug abuse among the youths.
Dr Richard Mugahi, who spoke on behalf of Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine, said the interventions would form part of a broader effort to improve children’s physical and emotional well-being while equipping them with practical skills to navigate challenges as they grow.
“There should be standards that this is how children in school, a growing child should be fed because they have very active brains, very active bodies,” Mugahi said during a Media Centre briefing on the National Framework for Education on Health and Life Skills.
He said proper nutrition and health education were essential to ensuring that children do not merely survive but develop into healthy, functional and productive citizens.
“By thrive we mean some children can exist but they are not functional,” he said, emphasizing the need to address children’s well-being beyond their basic physical needs.
Dr Mugahi said the MoH would also strengthen links between schools, communities and health facilities to ensure young people can access appropriate health information and services.
“We want to educate the public about the health challenges that they face, but also create a link between the communities and the schools where the young people are with our health system to ensure that they are receiving the optimal health services that will enable them to grow healthy,” he said.
He further warned that Uganda was grappling with teenage pregnancies while drug abuse was emerging as another serious concern among young people.
“As we talk now, we’ve been struggling with the issue of teenage pregnancies, but there is an emerging challenge of substance abuse among young people,” Mugahi said.
The Ministry’s contribution will include supporting the design and implementation of programmes for adolescents both in and out of school, alongside public education on existing and emerging health challenges.
The interventions are part of the National Framework for Education on Health and Life Skills, which the Ministry of Education and Sports has developed with the Office of the First Lady, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the Uganda AIDS Commission, the Interreligious Council of Uganda and other stakeholders.
The framework, developed through a process that began in March 2025, is scheduled for official launch on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 9am at the Office of the President’s Conference Hall.
It covers five key areas including growth and human development, relationships, life skills and keeping safe, health and well-being, and responsible citizenship.
The content is designed for different age groups, beginning with children aged three to five and extending to young people aged 17 and above. It also targets adolescents and young people outside formal education, recognizing that they too need access to reliable health information and life skills.
The framework, according to government officials, is intended to strengthen coordination among institutions and provide young people with age-appropriate guidance to make informed decisions, protect their well-being and prepare for responsible adulthood.
