Kisoro, Uganda – Communities in Busanza Subcounty, Bufumbira North, Kisoro District have raised concerns over increasing cases of school dropout and child labour at Lake Nyumba, where dozens of minors have abandoned school to engage in illegal fishing activities.
Lake Nyumba, a man-made water body, was formed following the construction of a 2.5 billion shilling water project that began in April 2023. Water was diverted from its original course to facilitate the construction, but the redirected flow submerged residents’ farmlands, leading to the unintended formation of the lake.
In a bid to earn a living, affected locals established the Nyumba landing site, now home to over 100 fishermen and more than 60 fishing canoes. Each fisher reportedly earns an average of UGX 50,000 per day from fishing activities.
Shockingly, of the 100 active fishermen, over 40 are minors aged between 6 and 17 years, who have dropped out of school due to their families’ inability to afford school fees. These children are now involved in illegal fishing — a development that has left many community members concerned about the long-term impact on their lives and the future of the region.
In an interview, Divinah Nyiranzonga (80 years old) and Harerimana Joviah (50), both residents of Gahiza Village in Buhozi Parish, expressed distress over the situation. They revealed that the flooding of their farmland had left them with no means to support their children and grandchildren in school.
Irahari Devis, the NRM LC3 Councilor for Buhozi Parish, and Mahooro Evelyne, the NRM Youth Councilor for Buhumbu and Buhozi parishes, echoed the community’s concerns. They urged greater collaboration between local leaders and government bodies to address the growing problems of school dropout and illegal child labour.
Habiyaremye Cypriano, Chairperson of all local leaders in Busanza Subcounty, expressed deep frustration over what he described as continued negligence by district authorities, despite multiple written reports and formal complaints submitted to the responsible offices.
Meanwhile, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) 2025, Busanza Subcounty has a total population of 16,721 individuals, of whom 5,658 are children aged 3 to 17 years. Alarmingly, 1,692 of these children are currently out of school — a figure that highlights the urgency of addressing the education and child labour crisis in the region.
