Uganda Ramps Up Fight Against Child Labour as Global Community Marks 2025 World Day

As the world prepares to mark the World Day Against Child Labour on June 12, Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating child labour in all its forms, with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) announcing renewed efforts to tackle the widespread issue under the theme “End Child Labour: Let Us Speed Action!”

The annual observance aims to spotlight the plight of children engaged in child labour and rally stakeholders toward meaningful action.

The permanent secretary Ministry of gender labor and social Development emphasized that Uganda is aligning with the global movement spearheaded by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF, which warns that child labour remains a persistent global crisis.

According to a joint 2020 report by the ILO and UNICEF, one in every ten children aged five and above is involved in child labour—an estimated 160 million children globally, including 92 million in Africa.

Uganda’s own statistics paint a similarly concerning picture.

The 2019/2020 Uganda National Household Survey by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics reveals that 28% of children aged 5–17 (equivalent to over 4 million children) are engaged in child labour, and in 2025 statisctics stand at 6 million people.

When household chores are excluded, 22% remain affected—up from 14% recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

The problem is more pronounced in rural areas, where 31% of children are involved, compared to 20% in urban settings.

’lets all join hands to fight child labor, the problem is still big and there is a need for everyone’s effort’’ Kibenge noted.

In response, the Ugandan government has implemented a series of measures to combat child labour.

These include the National Child Labour Policy (2006), the Employment of Children Regulations (2012), and the National Action Plan on the Elimination of Child Labour (2020/21–2024/25).

Labour inspectors have been trained and equipped with revised checklists to help identify cases in workplaces.

The Ministry urged all stakeholders—including parents, communities, civil society, and the private sector—to take concerted action in eliminating child labour and protecting the rights of Uganda’s children.

“We must act with urgency and unity to end child labour. No child should have to sacrifice their education and well-being for survival,” kibenge noted.

The 2025 World Day Against Child Labour presents a critical moment for Uganda and the global community to recommit to ending child exploitation and building a safer, more equitable future for all children.