Safeguard children through the holidays and the election season!

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OPINION

By Dr Robin Nandy

As the children of Uganda are into the end-of-year school holidays and the country prepares for the 2026 elections, the wellbeing, safety, and rights of children must remain at the forefront of everyone’s attention. This is a period marked by both opportunity and elevated risk. Protecting children now, during the holidays, throughout the election period, and in the months that follow, requires collective responsibility from families, communities, political actors, and government institutions.

The long holiday is a time when children should rest and play, and very importantly, simply spend the time bonding with their families. However, it is also a time when vulnerabilities increase. Cases of violence, child labour, sexual exploitation, teenage pregnancy, early marriage, and online abuse often increase when children are out of school.

It is crucial that parents, guardians, and caregivers remain actively engaged and mindful of potential risks. Spending quality time with children, understanding their routines, monitoring their movements, and supervising their online activity can significantly reduce risks. Children need safe spaces and trusted adults who listen to them, guide them, and recognise early signs of danger.

Communities, cultural and religious institutions, and local leaders also have a vital role to play. By reporting cases of abuse, supporting families, and promoting positive social norms, communities and their leaders can help ensure that every child remains safe and returns to school promptly when the term begins. Safeguarding children is not a seasonal responsibility; it is a shared duty throughout the year.

This responsibility becomes even more important as we are well into the election season. Elections are moments of civic responsibility of all eligible citizens and opportunity for national dialogue. But they can also expose children to political manipulation, misinformation, unsafe gatherings, and violence. Children must never be used in political activities or put at risk. All political parties and candidates should commit to protecting children before, during, and after the elections. Ensuring a peaceful environment is fundamental to the safety and wellbeing of every child.

The festive season and the election periods are also a time to reflect about the situation of children, the challenges they face and the future we want to ensure for them, and for Uganda as a country.

Cognizant that half of Uganda’s population are children, we must address the structural challenges that continue to affect children’s futures. Teenage pregnancies, school dropouts, malnutrition, limited access to essential services and the need to improve the quality of learning remain pressing concerns.

Furthermore, children continue to experience violence and abuse in their communities. The government should prioritise increased resources and emphasis for education, health, child protection, and social protection to ensure that all children, especially the most vulnerable, have equitable access to quality services and are protected from all risks.

Improving access to education and ensuring that children make a successful transition from education to employment is an urgent need if Uganda is to benefit economically from its young population – the demographic dividend. Many children face barriers such as long distances to school, inadequate facilities, high school fees, and limited teacher capacity. Strengthening the education system, including expanding early childhood development, and ensuring that schools are safe and inclusive, must be a national priority. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and reach their full potential.

Children also have a right to participate in decisions affecting their lives. Strengthening platforms such as children’s parliaments, councils, and the national Children Reference Group ensures that children contribute meaningfully to policy and programme development.

As we enter this holiday and election season, let us reaffirm our commitment to protecting Uganda’s children. Let parents spend more time with their children. Let communities remain vigilant. Let political leaders prioritise child rights. And let the Government invest in the systems that safeguard children’s wellbeing.

Uganda’s future depends on the choices we make for its children today.

Happy holidays.

The writer is the UNICEF Representative in Uganda