For many parents in Karamoja, sending their children into mining is not a choice but a necessity for survival. The European Union funded “From Mines to School” project is getting girls and boys back into classrooms in Karamoja, Uganda.
Aisha Nasio, a 38-year-old mother of four from Utut, has worked in the gold mines for over 11 years. She relied on the help of her two eldest children, a 16-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl, to increase the little income she could earn from the Nyagarina gold mines.
"We were in the mines every week, three days, from morning to late afternoon,” she shares. “On a good day, we get 10,000 shillings (approx €2.5). Most days, it’s just 3,000 Ugx. (€1).” says Aisha Nasio.
Implemented through a partnership among Education Advocacy Network (EAN), Resource Rights Africa (RRA), and Oxfam in Uganda, the project is based on a human rights approach that empowers communities, promotes gender equality, and provides accelerated learning opportunities for children who have been left behind.
By early 2025, there were six Accelerated Education Program (AEP) mobile schools established in some of the region’s most challenging-to-reach mining areas.
These mobile schools were strategically placed following consultations with district leaders and community elders, ensuring community support and long-term sustainability. Each school is staffed with four trained local teachers and equipped with furniture, tents, blackboards, sports equipment, and a wide range of educational materials.
Aisha’s 12-year-old son now attends the Utut Mobile School, which is located near
the mines. Although the mobile schools primarily serve children aged 12 and above, her two younger children were also accepted due to the limited educational options available in the area.
“"My 12-year-old is now enrolled in Primary 2. He could have been in Primary 7 if he had started earlier. However, the nearest school to us was four hours away, which is a difficult walk for the children,” she notes.”
To date, the project has enrolled 304 children, 173 boys and 129 girls, many attending school for the first time. They receive free books, pens, crayons, and other materials and are taught by trained local teachers using an accelerated curriculum. In a region where many youths are older than the typical age for their education level, the AEP model allows them to catch up quickly, with some already preparing for their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) within just a year.
The project also implements income-generating training for women and guardians. Groups of single mothers, widows, and elderly caregivers have learned to make things like craft jewellery, so they make extra income while ensuring their children stay in school.
My 12-year-old is now enrolled in Primary 2. He could have been in Primary 7 if he had started earlier. However, the nearest school to us was four hours away, which is a difficult walk for the children,” she notes.
In addition to economic support, the project launched awareness campaigns through local radio stations, such as Akica FM, highlighting the risks of child labour.
The region continues to face tribal insecurity between the Karimojong and Pokot communities, which affects attendance in some schools. Harsh weather conditions have damaged some of the mobile tents. Long walking distances, combined with the lack of midday meals and the absence of WASH (Water, Sanitation, and hygiene) facilities, pose a significant challenge to regular attendance - particularly for girls.
To address these barriers, the project proposes providing a nutritious midday school meal, which would require UGX 165 million (€40,315) over three years, and constructing pit latrines at a cost of UGX 36 million (€8,796). These improvements are vital to keeping children, particularly girls, safe and in school.