The Youths in the Kigezi Region are calling upon the government to extend its attention beyond just the girl child and also address the challenges faced by the boy child.
These concerns were voiced on August 16, 2023, during the Pre-International Youth Day Dialogue held at Cepheus INN Makanga Hill in Kabale Municipality with the theme of accelerating recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and fully implementing the 2030 agenda.
Brian Tugumenawe from Uganda National Students Association in Rukungiri District and Gilbert Bamwanga, the Kabale Youth General Secretary, emphasized that the government’s focus should not solely be on the welfare of girl children, but also on boys who are often associated with causing harm to girls. They highlighted the need for a balanced approach that addresses the issues affecting both genders.
They urged the government to pay equal attention to the boy child, asserting that this would foster harmony and progress between boys and girls. Tugumenawe and Bamwanga further noted that the approach would also help address the challenges faced by girls, as they often experience difficulties at the hands of boys.
The Principal Assistant Secretary for Kabale district Gordon Mazi, representing Chief Administration Officer Kabale District, Fred Kalyesubira, stressed the importance of balancing the treatment of all children, given the prevailing circumstances where girls are frequently impregnated by boys.
He decried the government’s current focus which he said, is solely on girls, not comprehensive enough to tackle the broader issues.
Dr. Rogers Ampwera, the Executive Director of Naguru Teenage Information and Health Center, emphasized the necessity of collective action to combat the said problems and equip the youth with knowledge they need to make informed decisions about lives and bodies.
He asserted that addressing the challenges facing the youth should extend to both genders. While acknowledging that girls often face more visible problems, he highlighted that boys also play a significant role in causing the said challenges, especially pregnancies. Dr. Ampwere stressed the importance of considering the needs and issues faced by both boys and girls.
About The Author
