Pathfinder country

Uganda

SDG indicator 8.7.1 Proportion of children engaged in economic activity
With household chores - age 5-17 (2017) Without household chores - age 5-17 (2017)
Total 13.2 % 18.1 %
Female 11.8 % 19 %
Male 14.7 % 17.2 %
SDG indicator 5.3.1 Proportion of women aged 20 - 24 years who were married or in a union before age 15 and before age 18
7.28%
Before age 15 (2016)
34.03%
Before age 18 (2016)
Latest ratifications - View all
C182
21 Jun 2001
Ratified
C138
25 Mar 2003
Ratified
C111
02 Jun 2005
Ratified
SDG indicator 16.2.2 Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population
2007
2008
2009
2010
0.19
2011
2012
2.37
2013
0.22
2014
2015
2016
0.88
2017
1.57
2018
2019
1.49
2020
2021
SDG indicator 16.2.2 Number of victims of human trafficking for forced labour, servitude and slavery, per 100,000 population
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
0.42
2018
2019
1.27
2020
2021
Source: ILO Normlex

Learn more about Uganda

Priorities

  • Engage in advocacy and awareness-raising. Awareness-raising activities, including through media campaigns, will be required. Strategic meetings with key stakeholders at the national and district levels should be carried out, to advocate for the inclusion of this issue in relevant policies and programmes. District action plans on child labour and child protection must be developed and implemented. Child labour committees should be formed at all levels.
  • Provide capacity building for relevant actors at all levels. More labour officers need to be recruited, trained, and provided with sufficient resources. Other relevant actors in child protection, social protection, education, and the labour market should be trained on child labour issues. Exchange visits for learning should be organized.
  • Strengthen social protection. The Universal Primary Education policy needs to be revised, and adequate laws and ordinances for child protection need to be put in place. In addition, decent work and livelihoods services for adults and youth of working age should be strengthened to ensure that family incomes do not rely on child labour.
  • Enhance the knowledge base. Relevant research on child labour should be stimulated, and their findings widely disseminated. To ensure that knowledge and information are readily available for action, a national child labour information management system should be put in place. Advocacy messages should be developed accordingly.
  • Improve the legal framework and enforcement. Current gaps in the legislation need to be addressed and existing laws against child labour need to be widely disseminated. Effective law enforcement should include a renewed focus on child labour inspection.

Progress

  • Uganda has taken the following actions to strengthen protection and prevention against Child Labour, Forced Labour and Human trafficking
    • Uganda and Kenya are currently in advanced stages of finalizing a memorandum of understanding on inter-country collaboration to combat cross border trafficking.
    • Uganda signed a bilateral agreement with United Arab Emirates to ensure protection of its migrant workers In June 2019, to ensure the protection and welfare of its migrant workers. In the recent past, countries in the Arabian Gulf have been notorious for cases of Working group on child labour trafficking and modern slavery, and this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is very timely.
    • The approval in August 2019 of the National Action Plan on Elimination of the Worst forms of Child Labour in Uganda (2017/2018 – 2021/2022),
    • The revision or development of District Action Plans,
    • The finalisation of the National action plan for Prevention of Trafficking of persons and presentation to Cabinet for approval
  • Awareness activities led to rescuing 63 children in Kawempe and Kayunga from child labour and to the formation of a cross-border committee of authorities in Uganda and Kenya targeting cross boarder trafficking of children and persons.
  • Uganda strengthened its knowledge base by conducting a baseline survey on child labour in the Albertine region and disseminating research on child labour in the coffee growing areas of Zombo District. Different stakeholders were encouraged to conduct research and as a result, the following studies were developed: one on barriers and enablers for adolescents to access decent work, another one by FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and, finally, a study on child labour and gender in sugar cane growing by Global March Uganda and National Organization of Trade unions (NOTU).
  • Uganda included indicators on migration have been in the National Development Plan III​

International Instruments

Area Ilo Instrument Status Ratification date CEACR comments
Child Labour
C138
Ratification of C138 - Minimum Age Convention (1973)
In Force 25 Mar 2003
Child Labour, Forced Labour, Human Trafficking, Modern Slavery
C182
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999)
In Force 21 Jun 2001
Child Labour, Modern Slavery
C029
Forced Labour Convention (1930)
In Force 04 Jun 1963
Forced Labour, Modern Slavery
C105
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (1957)
In Force 04 Jun 1963
Child Labour, Forced Labour, Human Trafficking, Modern Slavery
C143
Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention (1975)
In Force 31 Mar 1978
Freedom of Association
C087
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention (1948)
In Force 02 Jun 2005
Freedom of Association
C098
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (1949)
In Force 04 Jun 1963
Discrimination
C100
Equal Remuneration Convention (1951)
In Force 02 Jun 2005
Discrimination
C111
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (1958)
In Force 02 Jun 2005

Milestones

2016

Uganda adopts the Children (Amendment) Act, which establishes age 16 as the minimum age for work and criminalizes the use of a child for commercial sexual exploitation.

2012

Uganda launches the National Action Plan for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour. The objective of the NAP is to eliminate the worst forms of child labour and at the same time lay a firm foundation for children’s rights to be respected, protected, and fulfilled. A Counter-Trafficking in Persons and an inter-ministerial Task Force to coordinate anti-trafficking efforts are created.

2006

Uganda promulgates the Employment Act No. 6, which prohibits the employment of children in any work that is dangerous or injurious to the child’s health. It also launches the National Child Labour Policy, aimed at mainstreaming child labour concerns into development programs.

2001

Uganda ratifies the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention.