education 2 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Fishing Ban in Mayuge Fuels School Dropouts and Child Labour, Officials Warn
A government crackdown on illegal fishing in Mayuge District has severely impacted livelihoods, leading to increased poverty, school dropouts, and a rise in teenage pregnancies as families struggle to afford education and basic needs. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/how-fishing-ban-is-fuelling-school-dropouts-in-mayuge-5481730
A strict ban on illegal fishing activities on Lake Victoria, implemented to conserve dwindling fish stocks, is inadvertently causing a surge in school dropouts and child labor in Mayuge District. The crackdown, which began in 2017, has disrupted the primary source of income for thousands of households, forcing many parents to withdraw their children from school.
Local leaders and education officials are sounding the alarm, warning of a growing crisis. With fishing as their main livelihood, families can no longer afford school fees, uniforms, or essential learning materials. Consequently, children are abandoning classrooms to seek work in fishing-related activities, petty trading, sand mining, or farming, simply to contribute to household survival.
The economic hardship has also led to an alarming increase in teenage pregnancies, particularly among girls who are no longer in school. Vulnerable girls are being lured into relationships with promises of basic needs like food, often resulting in early motherhood. Furthermore, the poverty exacerbated by the fishing ban has reportedly fueled domestic violence within households as families grapple with financial strain.
Education infrastructure in the affected areas is already overstretched. Mayuge District suffers from a critical shortage of secondary schools, forcing students to travel long distances, a journey many cannot afford. Primary schools are overcrowded, with some classrooms accommodating up to 300 pupils, making effective teaching nearly impossible. The transition rate from primary to secondary education across the district stands at a mere 22 percent, highlighting the severe constraints on educational access.
Children are increasingly choosing work over school because they can earn money, even small amounts, through activities like drying fish, sand mining, or working in sugarcane plantations. This offers immediate relief from hunger, a common issue for students attending school without adequate food. The Equal Opportunities Commission has noted this trend and plans to investigate the rising school dropouts and teenage pregnancies, calling for urgent interventions to ensure equitable access to education.