KAMPALA – The Ugandan government and its partners have achieved significant milestones in the fight against child labour, officials announced at the Work No Child’s Business (WNCB) National Close-Out Meeting held at Kabira Country Club in Kampala.
The five-year programme, implemented by Save the Children, UNATU, EWAD, Nascent RDO, and Hivos, has made substantial progress in protecting children from exploitation and harm. Since its inception in 2019, the programme has supported thousands of children in gaining access to quality education and provided skills training and economic empowerment to youth.
The programme has also strengthened community structures to prevent child labour, influenced policy changes at local and national levels, and promoted responsible business practices in the mining sector.
According to the programme’s end-line report, child labour among children aged 5-17 years decreased by 5% from 56% at baseline to 51% in 2024. School attendance among the same age group increased by 7.3% from 71.6% to 78.9%.
Peter Lokeris, Minister for Karamoja Affairs, praised the programme’s success, particularly in the mining sector. “Community schools established under the programme have provided education and mindset change for children,” he said.
Mr. Hillary Businge, Assistant Commissioner in charge of Labour Productivity, highlighted the government’s commitment to reinforcing labour laws and policies. “We aim to create a safe environment where children can thrive, free from exploitation and harm,” he emphasized.
Juliet Wajega, WNCB Country Coordinator, noted that poverty and inadequate access to education exacerbate child labour in Karamoja. “Cultural norms also perpetuate child labour, with parents expecting children to provide for their families,” she added.
The programme’s success has been attributed to its Area-Based Approach and Supply Chain Approach, engaging local governments, businesses, and communities in combating child labour.
In Busia, the report shows that 84% of children aged 5-17 years are currently attending school compared to 76% in Karamoja. However, there was a noted 15% improvement in the proportion of young adults aged 18-24 years in decent employment, rising from 30% at baseline to 45% in 2024.
Forty-eight percent of females were noted to be in decent employment compared to 41% males. The report showed that 39.4% in Busia and a whopping 65% in Karamoja are currently facing a high risk of child labour.
The programme achieved a 26% reduction in dropout rates among children in their final years of primary school, from 50% at baseline to 24.4% in 2024.
With the programme’s conclusion, stakeholders are now focusing on sustaining its gains and scaling up efforts to eliminate child labour in Uganda.
This achievement is a significant step towards achieving Uganda’s vision of a child-labour-free future.
