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Uganda project overview
In Uganda, by the end of the programme 10,000 children will have been withdrawn from child labour and 8,500 children will have been placed and retained in schools. This phase of the project began in January 2010.
A key plank of the first phase of the project was the establishment of Kyema vocational training institute, which offers educational support and skills development to older children.
Building on the first phase of the project the new phase aims to withdraw child labourers from tobacco farms and support those children through primary and secondary school and the project’s own vocational college, Kyema.
To support these aims and the long term sustainability of the project it also seeks:
- To establish Kyema Vocational Training Institute as a centre of excellence in eliminating child labour in Uganda;
- To ensure commitment from the district and government to both implement child labour laws and to support Kyema Vocational Training Institute;
- To support tobacco families with alternative income generating activities, food security and help them adaptat to climate change through forest resource conservation initiatives.
About this project
Progress so far
Work exchanged for school
Child labour committees, established since the outset of the project, have withdrawn almost four thousand children from tobacco farms. Awareness raising activities have led to a greater appreciation of the value of education. The project contributed to an increase in the enrolment of over five thousand children and the traditional, seasonal fluctuations in attendance have decreased.
The project financed the building of the Kyema vocational college with classes, dormitories, administrative block and teachers’ houses. Support for students continued after graduation from the college. The college introduced a business arm to raise funds and help secure future sustainability.
Orphans targeted for support
Over a quarter of the 2008 intake of students to the vocational college totalled were were orphans. For the first time orphans had been targeted specifically as they are amongst the most vulnerable.
Government to take ownership of flagship college
By the end of the year the construction of Kyema college, with dormitories, main hall, class rooms and homes for teachers, was almost complete. The project secured support from central government and established an excellent collaborative relationship with key representatives. The Board of Governors for Kyema was nominated by central government and the college has now been included in the 2009-10 government budget.
The project continues to get child labour highlighted in local broadcast media.
Who’s running the project?
Implementing and coordinating partner
The project is implemented and coordinated by a national NGO called Community Development and Conservation Agency (CODECA).
Steering Committee
The Steering committee comprises Uganda Growers’ Tobacco Association; British American Tobacco Uganda; National Organisation of Trade Unions; Masindi district ILO/IPEC; Trade Union movement; Federation of Uganda Employees; Ministries of Education & Sport, Gender, Labour & Social Development, Local Government and Agriculture; Uganda Beverage; Tobacco & Allied Workers’ Union.
Area covered by the project
The project focuses in five sub counties in Masindi Western Uganda where the production of tobacco is predominant. These include Budongo, Kigumba, Kiryandongo, Mutunda and Pakanyi.
Duration of the project
The first ECLT project ran between: July 2004 – December 2009.
The second project runs from: January 2010 to June 2013.
Project budget
The budget for the new project is US$1,126,771.
Project documentation
You can find out more about the ECLT project in Uganda by viewing the following project documention: