The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) has raised concerns over persistent risks of child labour, modern slavery, and human trafficking in Uganda. According to officials, these forms of exploitation often begin quietly, exploiting poverty, misinformation, unsafe migration decisions, and deceptive recruitment practices, including online scams.
The newly launched “Protect Uganda’s Future” campaign is designed to equip families and communities with the knowledge and tools to recognize and prevent exploitation. Children and young people are particularly vulnerable, with traffickers increasingly leveraging social media and informal networks to lure them into harmful work.
The Ministry outlined key objectives of the campaign, including strengthening public understanding of exploitation, promoting safe recruitment and migration practices, and encouraging communities to report suspected cases early.
“Exploitation often starts quietly and can have devastating effects on a child’s health, education, and opportunities. Early detection and intervention are crucial,” officials said.
Government efforts also include rigorous labour inspections, community sensitization, and compliance monitoring to ensure that workplaces and supply chains do not employ children in hazardous or school-disrupting activities. The Ministry reiterated that using children in exploitative or dangerous work is unlawful and will be dealt with in accordance with Ugandan law.