Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Uganda (Ratification: 1963)

Articles 1(1) and 2(1) of the Convention. Legislation concerning compulsory placement of unemployed persons on agricultural enterprises in rural areas. For many years, the Committee has been referring to section 2(1) of the Community Farm Settlement Decree, 1975, under which any unemployed able bodied person may be settled on any farm settlement and required to render service. Section 15 of the Decree makes it an offence punishable with a fine and imprisonment for any person who fails or refuses to live on any farm settlement or who deserts or leaves such settlement without authorization. However, the Committee noted the Government’s indication that the 1975 Decree was no longer applied in practice and subsequently that it had been repealed. The Committee requested a copy of the legislation repealing the Decree.

In this regard, the Committee notes with satisfaction that the schedule of the Law Revision (Miscellaneous Repeals) Act of 2001 repeals the Community Farm Settlement Decree, 1975.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.