Ntagali to parents: Give your children more time

EASTER HOLIDAY

KAMPALA - The archbishop of Church of Uganda, The Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali, has advised parents to give more time to their children.

He revealed that most of the children are suffering from neglect and abuse because of selfish decisions made by their parents.

The archbishop asked parents to devote a big part of their attention to the children and inculcate in them appropriate values.

"Many parents leave house before the children are awake and return home when they are asleep. Children are not raised by their parents, but are being raised by house helpers who may not share your values," Ntagali said.

Delivering his Easter message at the Anglican Church provincial secretariat in Namirembe, Kampala, on Thursday, he also said that many children leave their homes because of fear and others are abused, beaten and denied food as forms of punishment for their indiscipline.

The archbishop also asked city authorities and Parliament to craft a way of getting children off the streets.

The church declared 2019 the year of children - focusing, among others, on encouraging the parents to fulfill their parental obligations and campaigning for protection of the rights of the children.

"I think the solution to the issue of street children is getting them off the streets. It is not through thinking about making bylaws and ordinances to punish people who help the street children," he added.

During this Easter holiday, parents have been urged to strive to discharge parental responsibilities and desist from violating the rights of the children. Many children are suffering, Ntagali added, as a result of neglect by their parents.

"I am here to tell you that you no longer have to be enslaved by your selfish decisions. When you accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour, you can walk in the power of his death and resurrection."

He called for fidelity among couples and asked them to refrain from indulging in immoral activities through exercising self-control. Salvation redeems people from sexual instincts and desires, the archbishop added.