[Uganda] 'Poverty Increases Child Labour'

from All Africa

Jane Nafula

The convergence of high population growth, poverty and HIV/Aids have hindered progress in the fight against child labour in Uganda, the new International Labour Organisation global report on child labour has said.

The report was officially launched by the Director General of ILO, Mr Juan Somavia, in Brazil on May 4. In Uganda, it was launched by the out-going Gender, Labour and Social Development Minister Bakoko Bakoru in Kampala on May 5.

The report said although the number of child labourers globally had fallen by 11 percent (about 28 million children) over the last four years, the situations is still of grave concern in Sub-Saharan Africa where Uganda falls.

According to the report, Sub-Saharan region has the highest proportion of children engaged in economic activities (almost 50 million working children). In Uganda, it is estimated that 2.7 million children are child labourers.

HIV/Aids that has orphaned millions of children and increased child headed families is among factors increasing child labour in Uganda.

About one million children have been orphaned by HIV/Aids. Poverty and high population growth are other major factors influencing exploitation of children in Uganda.

Uganda's population growth rate of 3.4 percent is the lead cause of poverty. Children from poor households sometimes engage in child labour to make ends meet. 38 percent of Ugandans live below the poverty line.

Bakoko said her ministry in collaboration with ILO and other stake holders had rescued 9,500 children excluding those in the war ravaged zone from child labour.