On 18th December 2025, key stakeholders gathered at Rome Safari Hotel in Buyende District for the Kagulu Closeout Meeting. The event marked the conclusion of the Kagulu Child Labour Social Dialogue Project, a major Stop Child Labour intervention spearheaded by UNATU in the Busoga region, particularly in Buyende District. The meeting brought together district officials including the RDC, LC5 Chairperson, CAO, DEO, District Labour Officer, Internal Auditor, District Planner, Police, religious leaders, UNATU regional and national representatives, and head teachers of the 11 project schools in Kagulu.
Welcome Remarks from the District Labour Officer
The District Labour Officer opened the meeting with a heartfelt reflection on his personal journey, sharing how he was once a victim of child labour at the lake shores. Now serving as a labour officer, he affirmed his commitment to ending the vice and commended the stakeholders for their efforts in the fight against child labour.
Remarks from the Program Officer
The Program Officer expressed deep appreciation to the district for its unwavering support throughout the project. He commended Buyende as a model district in the fight against child labour. As the project closes, he encouraged continued collaboration between the District, Civil Society Organizations, Police, and local communities to sustain the gains made.
Voices from the Community
Community members voiced interest in taking their children to school but highlighted persistent challenges such as lack of scholastic materials, absenteeism by both teachers and learners, and inadequate engagement by schools. There were calls for more community meetings involving stakeholders and the use of Music, Dance, and Drama to attract learners to school. Encouragingly, participants noted improved parental attitudes toward education.
Remarks from the District Education Officer (DEO)
The DEO praised UNATU’s efforts in Kagulu, highlighting capacity building trainings and an exchange visit with Kyesiiga. He acknowledged the donation of materials like music instruments and sports equipment to the 11 schools. While celebrating improvements in school attendance and behavior, he noted ongoing issues like under-staffing and sanitation. He also urged teachers to embrace technology and requested UNATU’s support with digital gadgets.
Message from the Chief Administrative Officer
The CAO emphasized regular attendance and technology adoption by teachers. She noted lingering challenges in teacher recruitment and asked UNATU to advocate for unconfirmed secondary school teachers teaching in primary schools.
Message from the General Secretary – UNATU
The General Secretary thanked the district for embracing the project and explained its origin. He discussed UNATU’s national efforts under various child labour projects including Work: No Child’s Business and Child Labour Free Zones in regions like Karamoja, Entebbe, and Kyesiiga.
He called for sustainability, better school environments, and record keeping. He condemned child labour practices in schools and encouraged mindset change and adoption of technology. He reaffirmed UNATU’s commitment to teacher welfare, especially in ongoing salary enhancement discussions.
Remarks from the LC5 Chairperson
The LC5 Chairperson addressed systemic issues affecting education like high dropout rates, child marriages, and child labour activities such as charcoal burning and fishing. He called for sustainable district-led solutions and praised UNATU’s contributions.
Remarks from the Resident District Commissioner (RDC)
The RDC emphasized that protecting the future of children is everyone’s responsibility. He encouraged proper enrollment, retention, and completion monitoring. He praised the DEO for promoting platforms for dialogue and thanked UNATU for maintaining a respectful engagement with government. He also raised concerns on issues such as multiple borrowing, child abuse and girl child protection in communities.
Final Reflections from the Program Officer
In the closing session, the Program Officer presented statistics on project accomplishments and thanked head teachers and district officials for their dedication. He called for resilience and ongoing commitment to improving education in Kagulu.
Message from the Senior Assistant Secretary – Kagulu Sub County
The SAS reported that work on new bylaws is ongoing and emphasized embracing technology. He expressed gratitude to UNATU and called on all stakeholders to safeguard the future of children.
Closing Remarks from the General Secretary – UNATU
In his final remarks, the General Secretary thanked the district for accepting the project and urged head teachers to maintain proper records and ensure accountability. He emphasized sustainability, unity, and continued engagement beyond the close of the project.
The Kagulu Closeout Meeting demonstrated that community-driven, multi-stakeholder engagement remains critical in tackling child labour. As the project winds down, the commitment to sustain these efforts offers hope for a safer, more inclusive educational environment for all children in Buyende.
