KAMPALA — Ugandan youth advocate and media entrepreneur Nyanzi Martin Luther, popularly known as Blockboy, has petitioned Parliament to consider legislation aimed at protecting children whose education is disrupted by floods, landslides and other climate-related disasters.
Blockboy and fellow youth advocate Amanyire Nicholas submitted the petition to the Clerk to Parliament on August 31, seeking consideration of the proposed Youth Climate Education Insurance (Supplementary) Act, 2026.
According to the petition, the proposed legislation would establish an education protection mechanism for learners whose schooling is interrupted by verified climate-related disasters.
The petitioners argue that while existing disaster response programmes focus largely on immediate humanitarian needs, there is a need for specific measures to ensure that affected children do not permanently drop out of school as a result of disasters.
They propose that learners affected by verified floods, landslides and other climate-related emergencies receive temporary education support to enable them to remain in school and continue their studies while their families and communities recover.
The proposed mechanism is intended to complement existing government disaster response and relief programmes rather than replace them.
The petitioners have asked Parliament to formally receive and process their petition in accordance with parliamentary procedures and refer it to the relevant parliamentary committee or committees for consideration.
They argue that disaster preparedness and response should go beyond providing emergency relief to families and communities and should also safeguard the education, wellbeing and future prospects of children and young people.
The proposed legislation seeks to introduce measures that would help learners whose education has been disrupted by climate-related disasters, including mechanisms for temporary education assistance and other forms of support necessary to keep affected children in school.
The petitioners say such interventions would help reduce school dropout rates in communities repeatedly affected by floods, landslides and other climate-related emergencies.
The petition comes amid continued concerns over the impact of flooding and other climate-related disasters on communities in parts of Uganda, including Kasese District, where floods and landslides have repeatedly disrupted livelihoods and access to essential services.
For families already struggling to recover from disasters, the additional cost of replacing school materials, meeting transport needs and supporting children to return to school can make continued education difficult.
The petitioners argue that protecting children’s education should therefore form part of Uganda’s broader climate adaptation and disaster response efforts.
Blockboy says young people are among those who bear the long-term consequences of climate-related disasters, particularly when disruptions to schooling force children to remain at home or permanently abandon their education.
He says a structured education protection mechanism would help ensure that a disaster does not become a permanent setback in a child’s education and future.
Blockboy signed the petition in his capacity as a youth advocate and media entrepreneur on behalf of Block Media Services Ltd.
Amanyire Nicholas is identified in the petition as a youth advocate from Kasese District and host of Kids Talk Show on Fort TV.
The petition now awaits consideration through the appropriate parliamentary processes.
