Child labour, early marriages hindering child education in Kamuli

Kamuli, (UG):- The International Development Institute (IDI) has outlined child labour and child marriage as the leading factors hindering child education in eastern Uganda’s Kamuli District.

The development came about on Monday, July 1, 2024, as the institution launched its campaign of preaching the meaning of the Day of African Child to schools where it operates.

Previously, IDI has been celebrating the Day of the African child considering one school where it operates to be the host which seemed to be affecting other schools that is why they’ve decided to move it to all their programme schools 

Embarking on this year’s theme “education for all; time is now”. They felt that all children need to understand the need for improved education as one of their roles to see that all African children access quality education.

However according to their research they have discovered that child labour and child marriage in Kamuli district is diverging children to access quality education 

While launching this campaign at Kidiki mixed day and boarding primary school in Namwendwa sub county Kamuli district, James Peter Eyatu the IDI Uganda Kamuli Branch said that even though they have put much effort to see that children access quality education by providing scholastic materials, challenges like child labour and child marriages have been hindering their efforts. Also added that parents also have neglected their roles and responsibilities.

“The challenges that we meet across our work is; one- child labour where children are used in sugarcane plantations and so they don’t attend schools. And child marriages we find children ending up in marriages due to parents’ negligence. So we call upon parents to support their children’s access to quality education”; said Mr Eyatu.

The regional child and family protection officer Busoga North Police, SP Komutegeki Winnie who was the chief guest said that  cases of child labour and child marriages have been frequently reported to police but measures have been put to eradicate these problems 

However, she warned all parents to take full responsibility to see that their children access quality education. “As police, we have received many cases of child labour and child marriage but we are working hand in hand with the district probation officer to eradicate these issues. I also warn the parents to allow their children access quality education because it is your responsibility”; she said.

On June 16th of every year, the continent comes together to commemorate the Day of the African Child (DAC). The day was gazetted by the Assembly of African countries’ heads of States and leadership of the Organization of African Union (OAU) in honour of the children who participated in the 16th June 1976 Soweto student uprising in South Africa.

On that day, thousands of black children took to the streets, to protest the inferior quality of education they were receiving, and demanded the right to be taught in their own language.