news 27 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Busoga Sub-Region Battles Rampant Child Labour Crisis
Child labour affects 30-34% of children in Uganda's Busoga sub-region, fueled by poverty, booming agriculture, mining, and weak law enforcement. Activists and officials urge stricter penalties and better awareness to protect vulnerable kids from hazardous work. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/busoga-grapples-with-child-labour-5437810
The Busoga sub-region in Uganda faces a severe child labour crisis, with labour officers estimating that 30 to 34 percent of children are involved in various jobs. Poverty, high demand for cheap labour, and expanding sectors like farming, mining, and trade are key drivers behind this issue.
In Iganga District, senior labour officer Abubaker Waiswa notes that parents actively seek work for their children in stone quarries, restaurants, and markets. Despite local ordinances imposing fines or jail terms, enforcement remains weak due to gaps in national laws.
Jinja’s Richard Nusu highlights low public awareness and the habit of buying from child hawkers selling items like maize and bananas as aggravating factors. He calls for laws punishing even buyers to curb the practice.
Namayingo’s gold mines and Mayuge’s cocoa plantations draw children into dangerous tasks, with officer David Bwire praising UPDF efforts to reduce child involvement in fishing. In Kaliro and beyond, rice and sugarcane fields see kids chasing birds, cutting cane, and loading trucks, as noted by probation officer Nelson Jumire and sugarcane association chair Christopher Mombwe.
Pastor Paul Batambuze of NEMACY blames parental neglect, forcing children into work for survival. A 2023-2025 survey by PLA and APT UK pegs Busoga’s child labour rate at 34 percent, aligning with global ILO-UNICEF figures of 138 million affected children worldwide, mostly in agriculture.
Officials and activists demand tougher laws, better implementation, and community education to end this menace.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)