Parents arrested for not educating kids
Oct 09, 2008
A total of 37 parents and guardians have been arrested in Bukakkata sub-county, Masaka district, for failure to take their children to school.
By Ali Mambule,
Masaka
A total of 37 parents and guardians have been arrested in Bukakkata sub-county, Masaka district, for failure to take their children to school.
The parents were arrested in an operation carried out by Local Council officials and security personnel in Bukakkata on Tuesday.
The LC3 chairperson, Salongo Jjuuko, and the area commander of the reserve force headed the operation at Lambu and Kaziru landing sites.
Jjuuko said although education is free, most of Universal Primary Education schools in his sub-county had few pupils.
“I become irritated by the big number of children who should be going to school but instead do odd jobs at the landing sites.â€
“They come here early in the morning to go fishing in the lake or dry silver fish (mukene).â€
He noted that the sub-county council had passed a by-law, instructing parents to take their children to school or face a fine of sh50,000 or three months imprisonment.
The Masaka RDC, Barnabas Bwambale, addressed the parents in Bukakkata sub-county about the by-law some months ago, he added.
“We shall continue arresting parents from other landing sites and take them to court until they abide by the Government programme of taking their children to school.â€
The operation first netted the children who were at the landing sites during school hours. They named their parents who were arrested.
Flanked by the area officer in charge of criminal investigations, Charles Byaruhanga, Jjuuko said the parents were yet to be taken to court in Bukakkata to face charges of neglecting their children.
Among the parents in custody are the chairperson of Kaziru Beach Management Unity, Steven Kyuma, and the defence secretary for Kaziru landing site, Godfrey Matovu.
Aisha Nalubega, a business woman at Kaziru landing site, had three of her children at home during school hours, while Joseph Bbaale of Lambu landing site had six grand-children not attending school.
Masaka
A total of 37 parents and guardians have been arrested in Bukakkata sub-county, Masaka district, for failure to take their children to school.
The parents were arrested in an operation carried out by Local Council officials and security personnel in Bukakkata on Tuesday.
The LC3 chairperson, Salongo Jjuuko, and the area commander of the reserve force headed the operation at Lambu and Kaziru landing sites.
Jjuuko said although education is free, most of Universal Primary Education schools in his sub-county had few pupils.
“I become irritated by the big number of children who should be going to school but instead do odd jobs at the landing sites.â€
“They come here early in the morning to go fishing in the lake or dry silver fish (mukene).â€
He noted that the sub-county council had passed a by-law, instructing parents to take their children to school or face a fine of sh50,000 or three months imprisonment.
The Masaka RDC, Barnabas Bwambale, addressed the parents in Bukakkata sub-county about the by-law some months ago, he added.
“We shall continue arresting parents from other landing sites and take them to court until they abide by the Government programme of taking their children to school.â€
The operation first netted the children who were at the landing sites during school hours. They named their parents who were arrested.
Flanked by the area officer in charge of criminal investigations, Charles Byaruhanga, Jjuuko said the parents were yet to be taken to court in Bukakkata to face charges of neglecting their children.
Among the parents in custody are the chairperson of Kaziru Beach Management Unity, Steven Kyuma, and the defence secretary for Kaziru landing site, Godfrey Matovu.
Aisha Nalubega, a business woman at Kaziru landing site, had three of her children at home during school hours, while Joseph Bbaale of Lambu landing site had six grand-children not attending school.