Kasese Municipality Mayor Godfrey Kabyanga has blasted parents who fail to take their children to school, preferring to give them chores in their gardens.

This, he said, contributed to the district's high school dropout rate.

"Now that the term is opening in February when it is time for cotton harvesting, most of the children will not turn up. They will be busy harvesting cotton," Kabyanga said.

Kabyanga, who was speaking during a press conference at Kasese catholic social services hall on January 10, blamed the problem on poor supervision by the school management committees.

The school dropout rate is higher in government-aided schools, and district authorities have pledged to look for a solution to the problem.