Outline:
The Crisis of Child Labour in Uganda’s Refugee Settlements and Busoga Region
A recent report by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has revealed alarming levels of child labour in Uganda’s refugee settlements and the impoverished Busoga sub-region. The findings highlight a dire situation where thousands of children, many of whom are out of school, are trapped in hazardous and exploitative work conditions. This issue is driven by poverty, weak enforcement of child protection laws, and deeply rooted cultural practices that perpetuate the cycle of exploitation.
The situational analysis, presented at Fairway Hotel in Kampala, focused on Adjumani, Lamwo, Kamwenge, Luuka, and Kamuli districts. It outlines how children are engaged in various forms of labor, including sugarcane cutting, charcoal burning, sand mining, street hawking, and even transactional sex. These activities not only endanger their health but also disrupt their education and future opportunities.
Adriana Franco Chitanana, LWF Uganda Country Representative, emphasized the urgency of addressing these challenges while highlighting practical solutions to combat child labour. She noted that between 2022 and 2024, the organization reached 400,000 children annually, including over 300,000 refugees, through education, protection, psychosocial support, and health services.
In the Busoga region, targeted interventions have led to significant progress. Over 921 children were removed from child labour, household involvement in such practices dropped from 94% to 45%, and nearly 10,000 learners participated in child rights clubs. Additionally, LWF supported Kamuli District in passing a local ordinance on child rights, which is currently awaiting approval from the Attorney General.
Despite these achievements, Chitanana warned that child labour remains a persistent threat. She stressed the need for stronger laws, improved access to education, responsible supply chains, and collective action at all levels to protect children’s rights and ensure their well-being.
Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Esther Davinia Anyakun, acknowledged the dual burden faced by Uganda as Africa’s largest refugee-hosting country and a nation grappling with rural poverty. She highlighted that declining foreign funding is increasing pressure on refugee families, while land loss and sugarcane out-grower schemes are pushing children into plantations instead of classrooms.
Anyakun reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting children under Article 34(4) of Uganda’s Constitution. She announced that Shs2 billion has been allocated in the 2025/2026 national budget to intensify anti-child labour efforts. Furthermore, the 2006 National Child Labour Policy is being revised to include sectors like agriculture and refugee contexts, which were previously overlooked.
Edrine Wanyama, a law lecturer at Uganda Christian University, provided a detailed account of the harsh conditions children face. In agriculture and fishing, children encounter hazardous tools, pesticide exposure, and extreme weather. Charcoal burning and firewood collection lead to burns and respiratory issues, while construction, sand mining, and stone breaking result in injuries and permanent school dropouts.
In urban areas, many children engage in street work such as hawking, boda-boda riding, and begging, exposing them to frequent accidents. Girls, in particular, face sexual exploitation and survival-based transactional sex, leading to widespread teenage pregnancies. By mid-2024, refugee settlements recorded more than 712 child-headed households, where minors are solely responsible for supporting their younger siblings.
The LWF policy brief calls for a coordinated, multi-sectoral response to address this crisis. It urges the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to increase funding for district-level labour and probation officers and to tighten regulations on informal labour brokerage. It also recommends that Parliament take a more assertive oversight role, ensure adequate budgeting for child protection and education, and support vocational training programs that offer alternative life skills.
The report further suggests that the Uganda Police strengthen enforcement in child labour hotspots through operations such as roadblocks, raids on illegal “boarding houses” that conceal underage workers, and the prosecution of employers exploiting minors.
Communities are also encouraged to play an active role. LWF promotes declaring market days and festivals as “child-labour free,” reinforcing Parent-Teacher Associations to reintegrate school dropouts, and mobilizing cultural and religious leaders to denounce all forms of child exploitation.
Chitanana concluded the event with a powerful appeal for joint action. She urged all stakeholders—government, civil society, the private sector, and communities—to work together to protect the nation’s most vulnerable. “Together, we can ensure that every child enjoys a life of dignity—free from exploitation and full of promise. But this requires bold, coordinated action,” she said.