Mbarara — Child labour in Mbarara District has increased due to high school drop out rates despite government efforts to keep children in school under the Universal Primary Education.

Mbarara's Labour Officer Ben Ssempijja blames this on parents and guardians' negligence and employers who want cheap labour.

According to Mr Ssempijja, child labour had reduced with the introduction of free primary education but increased because primary seven leavers had no money to continue with secondary education.

Mr Ssempijja was last week addressing a press conference at his office in Mbarara after arresting a woman, Mauricia Kyogabiirwe, from Nyamityobora Ward for failure to pay a minor, Robert Mucunguzi, who has been selling her pancakes.

Mucunguzi told Daily Monitor that he dropped out of school in primary six due to lack of money. He previously went to Nyamushundo Primary School in Nyanga Parish, Bushenyi District.