Archbishop of J''burg roots for girl child rights in Uganda

By Juliet Lukwago & Andrew Ssenyonga

Archbishop of J'burg Jabullani Nxumaloo has said traditional family lifestyle that casts the girl child in the background in preference of the boy child needs to be dropped to achieve women's progress.

Speaking during the 8th anniversary celebrations of the Bannakizito association day at Namugongo Shrine on Sunday, the Bloemfontein archbishop warned that marginalizing girls in the field of education would lead to unbalanced growth.

“Whenever there is a choice to make between a girl and a boy on who should continue with education, the girl is left behind. This must stop,” Bishop Nxumaloo stressed.

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Bannabakizito during the holy mass. Photo/Juliet Lukwago

He added that girls should not be looked up as the source of wealth through bride price, stating that when educated, are the best and able leaders in the country.

“When a woman is educated and she is posted in any office be it government or private, you will never hear of any scandals like corruption or embezzlement of funds because it is difficult to bribe a woman,” he noted.

He also urged young girls to stay in school and avoid early marriages if they are to have a bright future and become useful for the nation.

The prelate led a Holy Mass for thousands of pupils from Catholic-founded, public and private primary schools at their pilgrimage to the Uganda Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo.

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Bannabakizito in a procession at Namugongo on Sunday before the mass. Photo/Juliet Lukwago

The children came from Mitala-Maria, Wakiso and Kampala, the three zones that form the Kampala Archdiocese.

The children, who are members of Bannabakizito Association, were on Sunday, marking their eighth anniversary and change of leadership.

Scholastic Ndyagambaki, the former chairperson of the association handed the mantle of leadership to Francis Ssenabulya, the head teacher of St. Peters Primary School Nsambya.

In his message, Archbishop Lwanga, who is the founder of the movement, said that he named it Bannakizito, because he wanted the children irrespective of their gender, to emulate St Kizito, the youngest of the 22 Uganda Martyrs who were killed by Kabaka Mwanga for refusing to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ.