While the legacies of many institutions fade with time, Mpanga Secondary School—nestled in the heart of Fort Portal City—nears its 60th anniversary this December as a shining example of resilience and community support. For decades, it has stood as a beacon of education. Yet for many girls in Fort Portal and surrounding areas, the journey to completing school remains filled with challenges that too often derail their dreams.
Fort Portal City faces a unique set of circumstances. With the second-highest HIV prevalence in Uganda, adolescent girls and young women (aged 15–24) are particularly vulnerable—often due to economic hardship, which pushes many out of school and into risky situations. In response, the “Keep the Girl Child in School” initiative was launched, combining financial assistance with early warning systems to prevent dropouts, alongside peer mentoring to build resilience and confidence.
Now in its third year, the Absa KH3-7 Hills Run has become a powerful driver of this initiative. Proceeds from the annual event go directly towards supporting vulnerable girls through a partnership between Absa Bank Uganda and the Baylor Foundation Uganda.
Together, they are targeting 50 adolescent girls and young women across five schools in the Fort Portal and Kabarole districts. At Mpanga Secondary School alone, 15 girls have received comprehensive support—including tuition, scholastic materials, and meals—to empower them to continue their education and pursue their ambitions.
The impact of this support was clearly felt during a recent visit to Mpanga SS, where a delegation led by Jolene Abshire, Absa’s Sector Head for Development Organizations Coverage – United Kingdom, witnessed the transformation firsthand.
Among the students was Kesemire Gorrette, a Senior Four student from Tooro High School, whose testimony moved everyone present.
“Before the support, I had lost hope,” she shared, her voice trembling slightly. “The school fees and scholastic materials gave me peace of mind. My grades improved, and my dream of becoming a lawyer feels alive again.”
Tusiime, Head Teacher of Karambi Primary School, captured the broader impact of the initiative:
“These girls are intelligent and full of promise. All they needed was someone to believe in them—and to lift the burden of school fees.”
His words echoed through the school hall as students broke into applause, sharing their own stories of determination and gratitude.
Beyond Fort Portal, the initiative has touched lives across the country. Thanks to proceeds from the Absa Run, over 21,000 girls in districts such as Abim, Mbale, and Mayuge have received scholarships, educational resources, clean water access, hygiene facilities, and the moral support needed to stay in school.
While the steps in a marathon like the Absa Run may be long, their impact stretches even further—investing not just in education, but in the health, safety, and future aspirations of Uganda’s next generation of women leaders.
