CHILD LABOUR: HOW & WHY CHILDREN ARE DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOLS INTO CASUAL LABOUR

Authorities and other stakeholders in Rukungiri district and most parts of western Uganda have raised concern over the escalating cases of child labour, school dropout as many children continue to abandon education and resort to fishing at Rwenshama landing site on Lake Edward, and other cases of casual labour and child abuse.

RISE NEWS UGANDA NETWORK has established that child labour cases are prevalent in Bwambara sub county and some parents also force their children out of school for commercial and casual work in people’s homes and early marriages – with girls being the biggest victims.

In rural sides of districts like Buhweju, Sheema, Bushenyi, Kiruhura, Ibanda, Isingiro, Mbarara, and other areas, children continue to be abused by being subjected to casual labour like working on tea estates, artisanal mining, animal rearing, domestic work, food and other commodity vending, and other activities where they are exploited and paid poorly. The cases are also evident in urban areas.

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According to Bwambara sub county chairperson Chris Kagayano, these issues are attributed to parents’ negligence, failure to provide school fees and scholastic materials, and other challenges. Some parents/guardians connive with perpetrators.

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Kagayano who has vowed to arrest such parents/guardians, now wants the government and other stakeholders to support community awareness campaigns aimed at creating mindset change for both children and parents/guardians. He also wants labour-related laws reviewed, to discourage child labour since most parents/guardians have neglected their responsibilities.

AUDIO: LC 1 Chairpersons have now vowed to launch operations against such reckless parents/guardians. 

It’s estimated that the school dropout cases in Rukingiri now stand at 55% as of 2024 compared to 40% in 2023.

Call for Action: Kushaba Emmanuel, a community affairs officer in charge of children and their rights at Rise Against Poverty Organization-RAP UGANDA says the government and other stakeholders to increase awareness campaigns, and enforcement operations against child labour both in rural and urban parts of Uganda as a solution.  AARON AINOMUGISHA, RISE NEWS UGANDA NETWORK.

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