Busoga parents urged to prioritise children’s education over sugarcane cutting

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The Government has urged Busoga-based parents to stop engaging their children in sugarcane cutting, urging them to instead invest in their education for a better future.

During an on-spot visit to assess service provision at St Stephen Secondary School in Budondo in Jinja city on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, education ministry permanent secretary Kendrice Turyagyenda expressed concern over the growing trend of schoolchildren being used as cheap labour in sugarcane plantations.

Turygyenda, who led a delegation, including public service ministry permanent secretary Lucy Nakyobe, urged parents to invest in their children’s education for a bright future.

“Education is not only a right but also the most powerful tool we can give our children. We know Busoga has very intelligent people, but don’t allow your children to engage in sugarcane cutting because their future will be difficult. This is the twenty-first century run by knowledge, science and technology,” she said.

Ministry of Public Service ministry permanent secretary Lucy Nakyobe talking to some of the Jinja city officials. (Photo by Doreen Musingo)

Turyagyenda added that the Government has made significant investments in Universal Primary Education (UPE) and secondary education (USE) programmes to ensure that no child is left behind. She urged local leaders, school administrators and religious institutions to sensitise communities on the dangers of child labour and the long-term benefits of education.

“We must shift our mindset because with education, children will acquire competencies that will make them nationally and internationally competitive. The sugarcane you see today will be harvested and gone. But the knowledge a child gains will benefit them for life,” she added.

Provide lunch

She asked parents to provide lunchtime meals for their children, saying learners can’t sit in classrooms and pay attention on empty stomachs.

Busoga is known for its vast sugarcane plantations and remains one of the areas with the highest school dropout rates in Uganda.

However, during the meeting, she also appealed to teachers to stop a salary raise demand-related strike and resume their normal duties of teaching, saying the Government has assured them of increased wages.

“The Government is going to increase the salaries of teachers whose salaries weren’t enhanced starting next financial year. You have been patient and keep a little more because it's now an obligation towards the Government,” she noted.

She said teachers are highly valued by both the Government and the children they teach.

The visiting delegation listening to some of the learners during there visit to assess service provision at St Stephen Secondary School in Budondo in Jinja city. (Photo by Doreen Musingo)

Jinja Resident City Commissioner Richard Gulume raised concern over the reading materials donated by the Government over five years ago not being utilised and only kept on shelves. He urged that the books be put to full use by the students during their research work.

Headteacher Fredrick David Nabeta said they are not part of the current industrial action by teachers since different teachers subscribe to different teachers organisations.

He noted that the books were provided by the Government before the new curriculum was rolled out and are now ineffective.

City clerk Moses Otimong, who said they have set aside shillings 500 million for the recruitment of teachers in the coming financial year, supported the idea of parents providing meals for their children in schools.

He called for teamwork and constant inspections in schools so see that both learners and teachers are working from a conducive environment.

Neighbor’s say

Area resident Franco Mugote said students usually miss school during the harvesting season because some families prioritise sugarcane cutting as an income-generator over education.

“Many are lured by the promise of quick cash while others are compelled by their parents to work alongside them in the fields,” he said.

According to Mugote, as a result, some students drop out of school permanently.