[UAH] UGANDA SAND MINING ~ Ugandans At Heart (UAH)

Children Opt for Sanding Mining Over School

Child labour remain a pivotal issue in Uganda. Local media recently reported of school children dropping out of school to do sand mining in Kayunga, 74km (46miles) northeast of the capital, Kampala.

The children, most of whom are orphans opt to do profitable sand mining to studying which does not guarantee them the next meal, the next hope.

On the banks of river Nile in Busaana Sub-County, children usually descend in the middle of the waters, scoop the sand which they transport on the boats to the river banks from where it's sold at between Shs150,000 (USD 57) and Shs180,000 (USD 69) depending on the size of the lorry truck Local media reports

According to a UNESCO report (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation) released this year, Uganda has the highest number of school dropouts in the East African region. Out of 100 pupils who join primary one in Uganda, only 25% reach primary seven while in Kenya, 84%, Tanzania 81% and Rwanda stands at 74%, of those who complete primary.

I went to Busaana to see for myself and managed to capture a few images.