Busoga still struggles to end child labour despite intervention efforts

Uganda's Busoga region, historically one of East Africa's most agriculturally productive zones, continues to grapple with entrenched child labour practices despite two decades of intervention programs and substantial international development funding. This persistent challenge reveals critical gaps in Uganda's institutional capacity and supply chain governance—factors that European investors must carefully assess before committing capital to agribusiness, manufacturing, or retail operations in the region. The Busoga region, encompassing six districts and home to approximately 8 million people, generates significant economic output through cotton, sugarcane, cassava, and fishing industries. Yet poverty rates exceeding 35% in several districts have created structural conditions where families continue to deploy children in economic activities. Children work in cotton fields, cassava processing, and informal trade—sectors that frequently lack formal employment records, making compliance monitoring exceptionally difficult. The persistence of child labour despite awareness campaigns highlights a fundamental development challenge: knowledge gaps are not the primary barrier. Instead, economic desperation, weak enforcement mechanisms, and limited livelihood alternatives for adult workers perpetuate exploitative practices. Numerous NGOs have conducted community education initiatives, yet without simultaneous improvements in household income security and local governance capacity, behavioral change remains marginal. For European investors, this situation presents both reputational and operational risks. The