Poverty, alcohol abuse tearing families apart, says minister

 

 

Speaking to journalists about preparations ahead of the International Day of Families on Wednesday, Mutuuzo said families under stress due to material and psychological reasons.

 

"Families are breaking apart because couples don't talk to one another. A spouse wakes and leaves for work without talking to their partner. Poverty is another driver," she stated.

 

Apart from financial pressures, she noted that the family as an institution was ‘disintegrating at a very high rate' due to moral decadence, absentee parents, divorce, alcohol, and drug abuse.

 

The challenges, she noted, have resulted in high crime rates, immoral behaviour, lawlessness, conflict, diseases, poverty, violence against children and high level of illiteracy.

 

As part of activities to mark the International Day of Families, officials from the ministry held community counseling sessions for families facing different challenges, Mutuuzo disclosed.

 

The United Nations, through a resolution passed on September 20, 1993, proclaimed the year 1994 the International Year of Families. Since 2000, Uganda has commemorated the day.

 

This year's celebrations will be held in Bududa district under the theme "Peaceful Family: A safe environment for Child Growth and Development," which explores the role of families and family policies that contribute towards Sustainable Development Goal 16 pertaining to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, the provision of access to justice for all and to the establishment of effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

 

Mutuuzo noted that it was important to pay attention to family as the first institution that trains children to learn virtues of patience and self-control which are key in resolving human conflict.

 

"In the family, we form our values, character, and approach to relationships. The family is a good place to start building peace," Mutuuzo said.

 

The minister said the government had invested in institutions including the judiciary, police and probation officers attached to her ministry to deal with family matters.

 

Through wealth improvement programmes targeting women, youth and the elderly, the government is supporting families to fight poverty so that they can grow, she said.

 

She advised the youth to take time to plan for their families in order to ensure that they are able to raise children whom they can take care of.