Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns over a long period. Some of the impacts of climate change that have been more pronounced in Uganda in the past decades include drought and erratic rainfalls. These may lead to busting of rivers, landslides and mudslides, especially in mountainous areas and floods in the lowlands. According to the World Bank, Uganda has encountered 20 floods, 40 epidemics, 9 droughts and 5 landslide events and the cumulative damages of over 200000 deaths and at least $ 80million economic loss from 1900 to 2018.
Increases in the impacts of climate change have led to an increase in child labour in the service and manufacturing sectors and especially in the agriculture sector where activities are mainly rain-fed. The ministry of Gender, labour and social development defines child labour as work that is mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous and harmful to children. According to the International labour organization (ILO) 14% (2 million) of children between the age of 5-17 years were involved in child labour in 2017 and this rose to 39.5% (6.2 million) in 2022. Child labour in Uganda is prevalent in Karamoja, Lango, Elgon and Busoga sub-regions.
Some of the socio-economic impacts of climate change include loss of income sources and livelihood, food insecurity, malnutrition and low productivity. For instance, extreme weather events like drought and hot temperatures lead to crop failure and livestock loss. For example, between 2010-2020, Uganda experienced the most devastating droughts in history, which impacted over seven million people. (IMF 2022). These, among other incidences, cause a negative impact on incomes of families as well as their wellbeing, hence forcing them to find alternative ways of survival. In such instances, families engage children in other income-generating activities like agriculture, mining and quarrying, and other activities to provide financial support to the family.
On the other hand, climate change events such as heavy rainfall affects Uganda’s education, health and transportation systems, especially in mountainous and congested urban areas through disrupting infrastructure such as roads, schools, hospitals and homes. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), 52190 people were affected by heavy rains, floods and landslides between January and April 2024. Infrastructures including more than 1720 houses, 147 water facilities, 16 schools, and 8 health facilities were damaged. These incidences increase vulnerability of children as such, they drop out of school and divert to labour activities like laying of bricks, quarrying stone, mining gold, working in carpentry workshops, domestic works, street work like begging, car washing, working in hotels, restaurants and bars especially in urban areas.
Children in most areas of Uganda are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and so, as the effects intensify, they are more likely to continue suffering. Therefore, to curb the incidences of child labour resulting from the negative impacts of climate change, especially in the agricultural sector, the government can focus on the provision of agricultural extension services as well as early warning systems. Extension services could focus on adoption of drought-resistant crops, efficient water management techniques like drip irrigation, and crop diversification to reduce reliance on rain-fed farming. The government should also enhance policy enforcement against child labour and provide rehabilitation and reiteration programs to affected children, especially in communities that are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Ensuring social protection for vulnerable families through establishing social safety nets like cash transfers and food assistance programs to support families affected by climate shocks may also curb the incidences of child labour. The government should also increase access to education through improvements in infrastructure like roads, training facilities, health facilities as well as food supports.
In conclusion, the impact of climate change on child labour in Uganda is far-reaching in the agriculture, service and manufacturing sectors. Erratic weather patterns and temperatures with increased occurrences of natural disasters like flooding and landslides exacerbate poverty, displacement and economic instability, thereby pushing children into exploitative labour practices, undermining their rights to education as well as health care. The intersection of climate change and child labour in Uganda requires urgent attention, collective action and sustainable solutions by the government, NGOs and parents to protect the future generation of Uganda.
Issiah Ntaate is an Undergraduate Intern at the Economic Policy Research Centre