Communities in Busanza Subcounty, Bufumbira North, Kisoro District have raised concern over a surge in school dropouts and child labour at Lake Nyumba, where dozens of minors have abandoned education to engage in illegal fishing.
Lake Nyumba, a man-made water body, emerged in April 2023 after water was diverted to facilitate a Shs2.5 billion water project, submerging residents’ farmland. With their livelihoods destroyed, locals established the Nyumba landing site, which now hosts more than 100 fishermen and 60 canoes.
According to residents, over 40 of the active fishermen are children aged between 6 and 17, many of whom dropped out of school due to their families’ inability to afford fees. Each fisher reportedly earns an average of Shs50,000 per day, making the activity more attractive despite its illegality.
Elderly residents, including 80-year-old Divinah Nyiranzonga and 50-year-old Harerimana Joviah of Gahiza Village, said the loss of farmland has left them unable to educate their children and grandchildren.
CUE IN PARENTS …..ON THE MATTER…..RR//
Local leaders have also expressed alarm. Irahari Devis, the NRM LC3 Councilor for Buhozi Parish, and Mahooro Evelyne, the NRM Youth Councilor for Buhumbu and Buhozi parishes, called for stronger collaboration between government and local authorities to address the crisis.
CUE IN LOCAL LEADERS…..ON COLLABORATION…..RR//
Busanza Subcounty chairperson, Habiyaremye Cypriano, accused district leaders of neglect, saying several reports and complaints had been filed without response.
CUE IN HABIYAREMYE….ON FRUSTRATION…..RR//
Data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) 2025 indicates that Busanza Sub county has 16,721 residents, including 5,658 children aged 3 to 17 years. Of these, 1,692 are already out of school, underlining the urgency of tackling the education and child labour crisis.
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