Protect your children from riots

Apr 26, 2011

AT only 20 years and awaiting to join university, Gerald Kato no doubt looked forward to a bright future. But a bullet that struck him in the head during the recent walk-to-work riots at Kirinya in Wakiso district could change all this.

By Stephen Ssenkaaba

AT only 20 years and awaiting to join university, Gerald Kato no doubt looked forward to a bright future. But a bullet that struck him in the head during the recent walk-to-work riots at Kirinya in Wakiso district could change all this. Kato was not among the riotous people throwing stones and hurling insults at the Police.

According to press reports, he was on his way to the shop to buy sugar when a stray bullet hit him. The bullet got stuck in his nose and affected the cerebral region, putting Kato’s future at stake.

With more students back home for holidays, the risk of falling victim to the precarious riotous conditions in the country these days is very real. In many cases, school children have been the victims of errors of judgement by the Police, rowdy rioters and in a few instances, pupils/students have sought to join the riots.

Christine Alalo, the Police acting commissioner for the child and family protection department, says while the Police have sometimes mistakenly harmed school children, the guardians of these children need to be more vigilant, especially during holidays.

“Once children come back for holidays, the responsibility for their safety and protection shifts from school authorities to parents,” she says.

Unfortunately, some parents do not pay much attention to the safety of their children.
As if to prove her statement, Alalo says it is during holidays that the Police record more crimes such as defilement, which indicates lack of vigilance on the part of parents and guardians during holidays.

She says the Police have put in place measures to ensure that children will be safe during holidays.

“We have a sensitisation programme, which involves using the media such as radio, television to educate people, and particularly vulnerable ones like school children about avoiding danger during riots. We are also working with the church and NGOs such as the Parents Brigade to engage parents and children about safety.”
The implications for learners
Apart from causing bodily harm to school going children, riots have a long term impact on students/pupils, which as psychologists warn might influence the kind of people they turn out to be.

“Today, school-going children are being presented with violence as a normal way of settling disputes. This is terrible for the future of these students. What these people see today will shape their views about the future, as the leaders of tomorrow. Children who witness such violence and bad leadership will tend to reflect the same characteristics when they get into positions of responsibility,” says Byamugisha.

To minimise this disastrous effects, Byamugisha advises that students should be actively engaged in understanding these demonstrations and finding solutions for them.

“Parents and most especially school authorities should organise talks about these demonstrations and use these experiences as lessons for the young ones. This should be followed by debates and group discussions, where school children are challenged to express their views on how to handle such cases.”

Sebanenya says the current trend of violence on the streets and in many parts of the country will create a future generation that is immune to violence.

“As a result, we will have a population of individuals who are hardened and very difficult to control, even suicide bombers. With such a population, many of whom might be policy-makers and leaders, stability in the country cannot be guaranteed.”

He calls for positive lessons.
“Let parents, teachers and the Government draw important lessons from these situations and teach their children how to go about these challenging times.”

Matoya also adds that students who may have directly been affected by riots such as those that may have experienced teargas fumes and beatings will experience trauma and develop a fear (phobia) for such situations. But also, riots have the potential to influence the kind of people that these children look up to.

“From these situations, children are learning and will eventually take up certain behaviour depending on who they choose to emulate. If they emulate bad people, then this will affect their behaviour, education and future.

In many ways, school-going children have everything to loose from the current volatile situation. It remains the responsibility of parents, teachers and the Government to help the youngsters who will make tomorrow’s leaders.

Children who witness violence and bad leadership tend to reflect the same characteristics when they get into positions of responsibility

SAFETY TIPS

How best can students be protected from the riotous environment in the country


Gaston Byamugisha, a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Kyambogo University, says parents have a duty to keep their children busy.

“They are supposed to be occupied with chores and other constructive activities that on the one hand keep them busy and on the other hand enable them acquire non-academic skills,” he says.

Byamugisha says while children in rural areas seem to have a lot of activities such as farming, clearing bushes and tending to animals to keep them busy, their urban counterparts are more likely to have more idle time on their hands.

“Parents in these circumstances need to draw a timetable and provide a list of activities for them to do such as mopping the house and cleaning the compound to keep children from loitering in the streets,” he says.

Parents in urban areas, where more riots have been taking place, need to be more creative.

“Where possible, parents should enrol their younger children for simple skills-based courses such as catering and sewing, while the older ones can be enrolled for computer, performing arts and music,” Byamugisha says.

“Every chore should be preceded by a discussion between parents and their children about the need for them to get busy in constructive ways.”

Raphael Bwire, a parent and teacher, shares Byamugisha’s views.

“The best way to protect school-going children on holiday is to keep them at home doing homework, housework and other things that will keep them busy,” he says.

Bwire suggests that by keeping at home, children will have no reason to wander off to the streets where they will get caught up by riots.

George Ssebanenya, the head of the Department of Guidance and Counselling at the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), advocates a more radical move.

He says young people learn a lot through action; it would, therefore, be helpful if for the few weeks that they are on holiday, students are taken as far away from the centres of riotous action as possible.

“For instance, parents can organise to take their school-going children to their country homes in rural areas (the village) where riots are not as rampant,” he suggests.
However, Sebanenya says communication is a more important solution.

“Parents need to analyse the riots and to explain the implications of these actions on the children.

They need to show them that the effect of rising prices is that they may have to go to school with less pocket money or that instead of being dropped to school, they will use a taxi. Parents need to tell their children that these things have happened before and that with patience and restraint, they will stop,” he says.

Sebanenya calls on the Government and religious leaders to explain these issues to young people in schools.

“Once they understand the context and implications of these riots, young people will be in better position to act responsibly and keep away from danger,” he adds.

Ruth Matoya, a counselling psychologist, emphasises the need for communication between parents and children.

“Since most of the children on holiday are underage, parents need to educate them about the dangers of taking part in such riots. Let them know the need for them to keep at home,” she says.

Alalo, however, says school children are very curious and often get tempted to take part in demonstrations.

She advises that school children on holiday should avoid going out to the places where the protests are taking place.

Parents should ensure that children are kept inside the home instead of loitering around, which might lead them to participating in demonstrations.

YOUR VIEWS

Gilbert Rukundo, a businessman

Parents ought to watch over their children because adolescents are easily incited into political issues. If the parents fail to do so, they will feel the pinch the most, especially if the children lose their lives in a stampede.

Emma Musiimenta, a carpenter

Unlike adults, the youth are easily influenced by peers, hence the most appropriate measure is to advice them or, where necessary, ensure they are kept off destructive peer groups. We ought to remember that as parents, the ability to groom our children is obligatory, not optional.

Paul Orodio, a bodaboda rider

The most effective measure is to send the children to villages. That would even boost crop production at such an opportune time where there is plenty of rain, rather than cling to urban centres where unused land is limited.

Judith Apio, an administrator

Since we are in the dot com generation, I believe availing children with indoor accessories like Internet and TV would help limit their movement. Showing them love and affection also wins their respect for your advice.

Betty, a teacher

Encouraging children to accomplish their homework should be given priority. Thereafter, their movement should be limited by entrusting maids with the authority over when these pupils can get out of the house. Alternatively, sending them to the village can keep them off riots.

Shamira Nakato, a student

It is wiser to discuss riots with grown-up children (students) rather than dictate what they should do and when. Restricting the movements of these energetic youth is worth avoiding a problem as opposed to solving it. Besides, the youth are already enlightened on the fact that they have a right to political participation.

Compiled by Solomon Oleny

How to respond
In which other non-violent ways can problems be addressed? Send your views to Mwalimu, P.O.Box 9815, Kampala; Email: mwalimu@newvision.co.ug Or SMS: Type mwalimu [leave space], your views, name, contact then send to 8338


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