Shs12.5 Billion Initiative Launched to Combat Child Exploitation in Karamoja

A significant Shs12.5 billion program has been launched to address pressing issues of child marriage and exploitation in Uganda’s Karamoja region. The initiative, a collaboration between the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and the Freedom Fund, along with eight frontline organizations, seeks to dismantle the conditions that expose children to such harms.

The three-year Uganda Hotspot Programme will concentrate its efforts across Napak, Moroto, and Amudat districts, aiming to reach between 30,000 and 35,000 children, young people, and their families within approximately 300 communities. Research indicates that poverty, child labor, trafficking, and school dropout rates are closely intertwined with the prevalence of child marriage in the area.

During the launch event, State Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development (Children and Youth Affairs) Mercy Faith Lakisa emphasized that tackling child marriage requires more than just enforcing legal age limits. Findings from research highlighted that a substantial majority of girls in Moroto and Napak marry before the age of 17, with many caregivers also anticipating early marriages. Furthermore, a significant percentage of children between 10 and 17 are reportedly engaged in child labor.

Minister Lakisa called for multifaceted interventions, including poverty alleviation strategies at the household level, such as climate-adapted farming and vocational training. She also stressed the importance of reconnecting vulnerable families with government programs like the Parish Development Model and supporting girls who have left school to return. The minister underscored education as a fundamental right crucial for shaping a child’s future.

Youth representatives echoed these sentiments, advocating for increased investment in survivors of child marriage, sustained education for girls, and meaningful opportunities for young people to influence decisions affecting their lives. Implementing partners stressed the need for practical alternatives for families facing economic and climate pressures, alongside safe spaces and educational support for children. They also highlighted the vital role of locally led organizations in driving sustainable change.

This comprehensive program will focus on empowering children and youth to protect themselves and their peers, engage community leaders to challenge harmful norms, and strengthen governmental protection systems for at-risk children.

For more details, visit: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/380292/govt-partners-launch-shs12-5b-drive-against-child-exploitation-in-karamoja