By Kauki Sulaiman
The Government of Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating child labour and protecting vulnerable children from exploitation, warning employers, traffickers, and other individuals who profit from child labour that they will face the full force of the law.
Speaking ahead of the World Day Against Child Labour, which will be commemorated on June 12, 2026, in Mayuge District, the State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Hon. Simon Mulongo, said child labour remains a major challenge that continues to deprive children of their education, health, dignity, and future opportunities.
This year’s commemoration will be held under the theme, “Accelerating Action to End Child Labour: Dignity and Full Potential of Every Child.”
Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Thursday, Mulongo described child labour as work that is harmful to children and interferes with their education, development, and well-being.
“Government recognizes that child labour is not merely a labour issue. It is a development issue, a justice issue, a protection issue, and a national transformation issue,” he said.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF, an estimated 160 million children worldwide were engaged in child labour at the start of 2020, with nearly half involved in hazardous work that endangered their health, safety, and moral development.
In Uganda, child labour remains prevalent in sectors such as agriculture, fishing, domestic work, mining, transport, informal trade, street-based activities, and other informal enterprises.
Mulongo said Government has strengthened labour inspection systems, child protection structures, and coordination mechanisms to address the problem. Labour inspectors have also been trained to identify and report cases of child labour across various workplaces.
He highlighted several government programmes aimed at addressing poverty and improving household incomes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, the GROW Project, the Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job Creation, the Jua-Kali Programme, and the National Apprenticeship Programme.
“When parents and guardians have reliable incomes, children are more likely to remain in school, access basic needs, and grow in a safe and supportive environment,” he noted.
The Minister also expressed concern over the growing number of children living and working on the streets of Kampala and other urban centres, particularly those originating from vulnerable communities.
He questioned the networks behind the movement and exploitation of street children, saying authorities would intensify investigations into individuals involved in recruiting, transporting, harbouring, and profiting from children engaged in street begging and other exploitative activities.
“Where adults recruit, transport, harbour, control, deploy, or profit from children, it becomes a matter of exploitation and criminal accountability,” Mulongo said.
Government plans to strengthen collaboration among local governments, security agencies, probation officers, child protection actors, cultural and religious leaders, and development partners to identify and prosecute those responsible for child exploitation.
The Minister emphasized that children found in exploitative situations should be treated as victims rather than offenders and should receive rehabilitation, education, psychosocial support, family tracing, and reintegration services.
As part of ongoing efforts, Government will continue strengthening labour inspection, occupational safety and health systems, child labour monitoring, labour dispute resolution mechanisms, and labour market information systems.
Mulongo also said Uganda would continue improving its labour migration and externalization framework through stronger bilateral labour agreements, better regulation of recruitment agencies, improved migrant worker protection, and enhanced reintegration support for returning workers.
He called upon employers, workers’ organizations, local governments, civil society groups, development partners, parents, guardians, religious and cultural leaders, and the media to work together in ending child labour.
“As we commemorate the World Day Against Child Labour 2026, let us renew our collective commitment to safeguarding the rights, dignity, and future of every child,” he said.
The national commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour will take place at Bugadde Primary School in Bugadde Town Council, Mayuge District.