It is unfortunate to usually find very little children wandering around the school kitchens.
The sad reality is that women preparing the children’s meals do not have other option than to bring them along. Childcare is very limited and unaffordable.
Bringing their children to the school kitchen allows mums to continue earning an income while still keeping them close and under her watch. Since the kitchen is their workplace, n for long hours every day, the children spend much of their time there, playing nearby, resting, or helping with small chores, which makes their presence seem normal to both staff and learners.
This also reflects the strong family-centered culture in many Ugandan communities, where children are often included in daily work activities rather than separated from them.
However, it increases the risks because young children may move too close to open flames, hot cooking pots, knives, or slippery surfaces while their mother is busy preparing food and may not be able to supervise them constantly.
A kitchen with institutional improved cook stoves can drastically reduce accidents like burns. Nevertheless other incidents can still occur for many other reasons, showing the need for safer childcare arrangements or protected spaces away from the cooking area.