Untitled - Terre des Hommes

4. Interventions
Government initiatives
The Ugandan government is running a number of programmes aimed at combating child labour. The
Universal Primary Education programme supports the informal sector and hopes to eliminate
poverty while addressing child labour. The government also organizes sensitization programmes
which disseminate information to relevant ministries and partner organizations about the worst
forms of child labour. 354 Finally, the government has introduced National Agricultural Advisory
Services (NAADS) in order to improve food security. This programme benefits working children. 355
The Kampala City Council is running a programme that aims to make leaders at the local level more
sensitive to child labour laws. A lack of transportation and communication facilities however impedes
the municipality of Kampala from responding to and investigating all suspected cases of child
exploitation. 356 There are Child Protection Committees, including probation and social welfare
officers, police officers and community development officers, which work hand-in-hand with civil
servants to create more awareness about the National Child Labour Policy and to advocate for the
education of girls. These committees work together with the local council. 357
The introduction of universal primary education was viewed by some interviewees as a successful
intervention and according to 2006 statistics, seven million children attend school. Universal
secondary education is presently also being introduced in Uganda, however the quality of these
schools is not always sufficient. 358 Penalties have been put into place for parents who refuse to send
their children to school. 359
According to some sources, the protection provided to children by the police has improved over the
past few years due to increased capacity and funds for programmes aimed at children. 360 The police
have a separate child and family protection unit. 361 However the police are criticized for taking bribes,
including for cases involving child labour and other forms of child exploitation, which impedes the
proper implementation of relevant laws and the ability to bring a case to a close. 362
The legal consequence of the commercial exploitation of children is prosecution when caught. After
the police take up a case of child exploitation it is passed on to a special children’s and family court.
The punishment for those convicted varies, but generally the employer will have to pay
compensation to the child, including extra damages if the child has been injured. 363
Prior to the ratification of the ILO Conventions on Child Labour, the Ugandan government launched
a National Programme to Eliminate Child Labour. This programme aimed at
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