In Summary: Shepherds Junior School Kamuli Director Sanubi Mukoda Kyeyune and Busoga Diocese Bishop Prof. Grace Lubaale have called for stronger cooperation between parents, religious institutions, cultural leaders and government to protect children from harmful influences, early marriages, teenage pregnancies and digital risks during the long school holiday.
Kamuli, Uganda — Parents, religious institutions, cultural leaders and government have been challenged to strengthen cooperation in nurturing children morally, spiritually and socially, as schools prepare to release candidates for the long holiday and festive season.
The call was made by Shepherds Junior School Kamuli Director Sanubi Mukoda Kyeyune during a parenting reflection and blessing interface involving the Bishop of Busoga Diocese, Prof. Grace Lubaale, and Kamuli Muslim District Khadhi Sheikh Ismail Kazibwe.
The leaders emphasised the need for stronger partnerships to protect children from harmful social influences, early marriages, teenage pregnancies, inappropriate digital content and other risks that could undermine their education and development.
Mukoda said parents and institutions needed to prepare for the challenges children may encounter during the long vacation, particularly as increased access to technology exposes young people to information and influences that require proper guidance.
“We must face the reality that these candidates are coming back to during the long vacation and festive holidays by strengthening partnership, collaboration and advocacy to set public agenda especially in use of technology but above all demonstrate commitment to empower and mitigate early marriages,” Mukoda said.
She called for greater attention to child safeguarding, digital security and resilience, urging institutions to build their capacity to protect children while promoting responsible use of information and communication technology.
Bishop Lubaale, a former lecturer at Kyambogo University and national coordinator of Pastors’ Kids, said changing parenting practices and increased dependence on technology had weakened traditional community-based approaches to raising children.
He observed that informal family and community interactions, through which children traditionally received guidance from parents and other responsible adults, were increasingly disappearing.
“We have lost social fabric, parenting roles, values and norms to technology and absentee parents and these candidates are coming to careless freedom which we must reorganize to protect and revive,” Bishop Lubaale said.
He urged parents and communities to reclaim their responsibility in guiding children, particularly during school holidays when learners spend more time away from teachers and structured school environments.
Kamuli Muslim District Khadhi Sheikh Ismail Kazibwe called on parents to dedicate quality time to their children, saying open communication would help young people feel comfortable discussing their challenges and seeking guidance.
Kazibwe said religious, cultural, traditional and government institutions needed to work together to protect children from harmful information, practices and social influences. He also emphasised that children’s rights should be accompanied by guidance and responsibility, urging parents to use constructive approaches in addressing behavioural challenges.
“Children dreams matter and we should help them avoid early marriage, teenage pregnancy, harmful peer pressure and decisions that disrupt their education but above all protect their future by making them staying in school,” Kazibwe said.
He urged parents to ensure that children remain focused on their education and are supported to make decisions that protect their long-term prospects.
The engagement also provided an opportunity for learners to share their experiences and expectations of parents and school administrators.
Paul Tinkaman, a PLE candidate and president of the School Children’s Council, said seeing religious and school leaders come together to discuss children’s welfare was encouraging. He appealed to parents to understand the challenges their children face rather than placing excessive pressure on them to fulfil ambitions that may not necessarily reflect the children’s interests.
Tinkaman acknowledged that children sometimes make mistakes but said parents should consider alternative disciplinary and corrective approaches that help them understand their actions.
“Okay, the children sometimes go wrong but alternative disciplinary/corrective measures should be used so that the child comes to realize his mistake and the well intention of the parent’s punishment. This can be done through mutual communication where we can be listened, given second chance and valued,” Tinkaman said.
He also appealed to Shepherds Junior School to continue supporting candidates after their PLE examinations through guidance, counselling and follow-up programmes during the holiday.
Tinkaman said learners often found it easier to discuss personal challenges with teachers and other trusted school officials whom they regarded as alternative parental figures.
The engagement brought together school administrators and religious leaders in a shared appeal for stronger family involvement, responsible parenting and continued protection of children as they transition from the school term into the holiday period.
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