Don't abdicate your responsibility, First Lady urges parents

The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, has urged parents to do more in addressing the challenges faced by the girl child as a parenting obligation.

Noting that the Government has taken several measures to empower the girl child, Mrs Museveni said some parents were abandoning their parental roles. She was speaking during a conference to mark the International Day of Girl Child, at State House, on Tuesday.

"As we take stock of what has or has not been done, I cannot fail to recognise the almostcomplete abdication of parental roles. The Government cannot do it all. Everyone of us has a role to play. All of us need to build our country," the First Lady said.

Under the theme, My voice, our equal future, the conference aimed at charting ways to fight barriers that hold girls back in society.

Among other issues discussed during the conference was the high rate of teenage pregnancy in the country, leading to a increasing school dropout for girls when compared to boys.

The First Lady noted that basics such as sanitary pads help to ensure that girls stay in school, but many parents were not providing them for their children.

"The answers to the problems girls are facing can only come from families, not the Government or its partners like the UN," Mrs Museveni said.

The First Lady added that many children in the country were suffering from avoidable illnesses and malnutrition despite the fact that the country is a food basket in the region.

She said this was not only affecting the health of the children, but also having repercussions on the country's education progress.

Mrs Museveni said the education sector was facing challenges in getting children to stay in school.

"Many children come to school without food and they have to spend the whole day hungry," she said, urging Ugandans to support the Government in its efforts to empower girls.

"When you educate a boy, you educate an individual, but when you educate a girl you educate a whole nation," Mrs Museveni explained.

COVID-19 pandemic

Referring to the emerging evidence on the impact of COVID-19 in Uganda, Mrs Museveni said girls and young women have been more affected, compared to boys and men.

"Therefore, as policy makers we must continue to prioritise interventions to empower the girl child. We must also support every opportunity to increase awareness on gender inequality faced by girls," she noted.

"Together we can help our young girls achieve their full potential. The Government has put in place a multi-sectoral plan, policies and interventions, aimed at reducing teenage pregnancies and empowering the girl child," the First Lady explained.

EU support

Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Per Lindgärde, the Swedish ambassador to Uganda, said they would continue supporting the country's development efforts.

Lindgärde thanked the Government for availing universal education which had immensely enabled many children to enrol in school, especially girls.

"Investing in girls is investing in the future," he said.

Rosa Malango, the UN country representative to Uganda, urged the Government to focus on addressing cultural barriers that impede the girl child.

Nakiwala Kiyingi, the state minister for children affairs, said the Government would intensify efforts to reduce cases of violence against girls, noting that 6,000 cases of violence against girls were recorded between March and June this year.