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More vulnerable girls across Uganda are set to receive support to stay in school after Absa Bank Uganda channelled UGX 700 million raised through the 2026 Absa KH3 7 Hills Run towards girls’ education programmes.
The funds will be distributed among eight organisations working in communities across the country, with programmes targeting some of the challenges that continue to push girls out of school.
The support will cover areas including menstrual health, scholastic materials, school re-entry for teenage mothers, access to clean water and sanitation, disability-inclusive education, counselling, mentorship and vocational skills training.
The investment comes against the backdrop of persistent inequalities in access to education.
A 2024 study by the Ministry of Education and Sports, the European Union and UNICEF found that secondary school enrolment among children from the wealthiest households stood at 43.1 percent, compared to just 8.2 percent among children from the poorest households.
Financial difficulties remain one of the biggest barriers, while girls also face additional challenges such as teenage pregnancy, long distances to school, gender-based violence, disability and inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.
Absa Bank Uganda Managing Director David Wandera said the bank chose to work through organisations already operating in affected communities.
“A girl’s circumstances can still have a significant bearing on whether she is able to remain in school and complete her education,” Wandera said.
He added that the challenges differ from one community to another, ranging from the inability to afford basic scholastic materials to teenage motherhood, disability and poor sanitation.
Under the latest funding, the Uganda Red Cross Society will receive UGX 100 million to expand its Keep a Girl in School programme. The money will support menstrual health kits for 10,000 vulnerable girls, menstrual health education for 15,000 adolescents, teachers and caregivers across 100 schools, as well as school re-entry support for 1,000 teenage mothers.
Windle International Uganda will receive UGX 90 million to provide scholastic materials, bicycles, dignity kits, counselling and school reintegration support to girls in refugee-hosting and hard-to-reach communities.
Another UGX 100 million will go to World Vision Uganda to improve menstrual health and hygiene in Northern Uganda through access to clean water, sanitation facilities and safer learning environments.
Amref Health Africa, also allocated UGX 100 million, will distribute reusable sanitary pads and support teenage mothers returning to school in Mbale, Kibuku and the island communities of Namayingo.
Plan International Uganda will use its UGX 100 million allocation to provide menstrual health kits and scholastic materials while offering vocational training in sanitary pad production, sewing and entrepreneurship.
RIDE-AFRICA will receive UGX 60 million for projects in Kitgum District focusing on water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, changing rooms, menstrual health, teacher capacity building, school clubs and life skills.
The Kyaninga Child Development Centre will receive UGX 60 million to support 100 girls with disabilities and help 18 schools improve their capacity to provide inclusive and accessible learning environments.
Meanwhile, Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation-Uganda will receive UGX 90 million to support 1,000 vulnerable girls in Hoima, Mubende and Fort Portal through education assistance, counselling, mentorship, vocational training and programmes aimed at identifying girls at risk of dropping out.
All beneficiaries of the 700m from Absa Bank
More than 8,000 people participated in the fourth edition of the Absa KH3 7 Hills Run in May.
The initiative, which was launched in 2023, has now raised a cumulative UGX 1.6 billion and supported 52,713 girls through programmes aimed at improving menstrual health, education access and school retention.
The latest investment is expected to extend that support to more communities, helping girls overcome barriers that stand between them and completing their education.
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