Kibuku (UG):– Kibuku Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Matiya Mulindwa Kagugube on Tuesday launched an operation in Kadama Town Council targeting children engaged in money-generating activities during school hours.
The operation, conducted with the support of local authorities and law enforcement, resulted in the arrest of over 20 children.
Accompanying the Deputy RDC were the Officer in Charge (OC) of Kadama Police Station, the Education Officer in Charge of Special Needs, Mr. Mukungu Robert, Kadama Town Council Mayor Hon. Nsenye Nathan Israel, and other key stakeholders.
The initiative aims to address the troubling trend of children leaving school prematurely, which has been linked to a range of social issues, including child labor.
According to an information report from the Kadama Police Station, on March 11, 2025, at approximately 9:15 AM, Deputy RDC Kagugube led a team of police officers in an operation at Kadama Township Cell.
They sought to identify school-going children who were loitering during school hours under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program. Over 20 children, aged between 6 and 14 years, were apprehended and taken to the Kadama police station.
Parents later arrived at the police station to retrieve their children, citing various reasons for their absence, including illness and financial difficulties. The Deputy RDC instructed the police to caution the parents before releasing the children.
Speaking to DailyExpress, Deputy RDC Kagugube emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that Kibuku district’s performance in the 2023 Uganda National Examinations for Primary Seven was among the lowest in the country. He attributed this decline to high rates of absenteeism and child labor, underscoring the need for immediate action.
“This operation is just the beginning. As long as I am still in Kibuku, these efforts will continue until we achieve stability in our education system. We want to see Kibuku change for the better,” Kagugube stated resolutely.
Mr. Mukungu Robert, the Education Officer, echoed these sentiments, affirming the commitment to improving the educational framework in the district. “We are yet to reach even the villages for such operations,” he remarked, highlighting the comprehensive nature of their planned interventions.
Mayor Hon. Nsenye Nathan Israel praised the Deputy RDC’s initiative, asserting that it would contribute significantly to reducing crime rates in the community. “Some young boys who drop out of school have resorted to breaking into houses at night. I believe this operation will help mitigate school dropouts and their subsequent involvement in criminal activities,” he commented.
The OC of Kadama Police Station indicated that future operations may involve holding parents accountable for their children’s attendance. “This attempt has served as a warning. In our next operation, we will consider arresting the parents of any children found engaging in such activities,” he stated.
Local residents have expressed their support for the operation, urging the Deputy RDC to extend efforts into rural areas where child labor remains prevalent, particularly during the rainy season when many children are forced to work in agriculture for financial support.
As the community grapples with the challenges of child labor and education, the commitment of local leaders like Deputy RDC Kagugube offers a glimmer of hope for a brighter future in Kibuku. The operation signifies a collective stand against the factors undermining children’s rights to education and a safe childhood.
Send us your story or opinion on: [email protected]. You can also follow Daily Express on WhatsApp for all the latest news and updates.
