More boys engaged in child labour - Report

CHILD | LABOUR | BOYS

KAMPALA - More boys (40.9%) are engaged in child labour than girls (30%), according the latest report titled: Child labour in Uganda: Trends and strategies.

The report says 59.8% of children involved in labour are found in rural areas, while those in urban centres are at 44.4%.

The revelations were made during the learning and advocacy event organised by the Nascent Research and Development Organisation Uganda (NRDO) on Thursday, December 08, 2022, at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel.

Minister Betty Amongi said the low level of industrialisation, poverty, demand for unskilled labour and high cost of education among others have forced children to go into child labour. (All Photos by Jacquiline Nakandi)

NRDO Uganda Programs Manager – Social Protection Barbara Odongo said the agriculture sector is responsible for the majority of children engaged in labour.

She said this kind of work is harmful to children’s physical, social or psychological well-being.

Child labour increasing

Presenting findings of the report by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) to stakeholders recently, Michael Ogen, the principal statistician at UBOS, said trends in child labour particularly increased among children aged 5 - 11 years (58%) in 2021 from 55% reported in 2019/2020’s Uganda National Household Survey.

Some of the guests who attended the event.

“By sub-region, Karamoja reported the highest number of children engaged in child labour at 55.6%, followed by Lango, Elgon, Busoga and Acholi,” he said.

Betty Amongi, the Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, said the low level of industrialisation, poverty, demand for unskilled labour and high cost of education among others have forced children to go into child labour.

The minister observed that to reduce unskilled labour, the country must move towards industrialisation.

Former pupils of Kiburara Primary School in Kabarole district addressing guests.

During the event, former pupils of Kiburara Primary School in Kabarole district asked the government to strengthen the enforcement of laws against child labour.

They also called upon child rights actors to sensitise the public on the dangers of child labour and asked religious and cultural leaders to get involved in the fight against the vice.