By Alele Ronald
The Interim head of Lango Cultural Foundation, Fredrick Ogwal Oyee, who is also Inomo Clan Head, has called on parents and caregivers across the Lango sub-region to take full responsibility for their children’s safety and wellbeing during the school holidays, warning against rising risks of child neglect, exploitation, and sexual and substance abuse.
In an exclusive interview with the media on Thursday, Ogwal Oyee emphasised that holidays are presenting increased dangers, especially for our young girls, who he said are vulnerable to predators exploiting the break to lure them into acts that cannot be tolerated.
“Parents must be vigilant and protective of their young ones, especially girls. Some people take advantage of the holiday period to introduce young people into activities that destroy their future. We are increasingly seeing cases where young lives are unfortunately lost. This is unacceptable,” Ogwal Oyee warned.
The cultural leader also advised parents against allowing their children to travel to relatives’ homes during the holiday, emphasizing that such movements further expose children to risks, including abuse and loss of the much needed parental oversight.
“Children should remain at home under the direct care of their parents or guardians. Moving from one home to another during these short holidays may seem harmless, but it removes the young ones from the controlled environment of their own home,” he said.
In his message, Ogwal Oyee further encouraged children to use the holiday productively by helping their parents with domestic work at home. He noted that this instils a sense of responsibility and strengthens family bonds.
“Holidays are not just for rest and play. Children should assist their parents in household chores and appreciate how the parents earn their livelihood.This also teaches them discipline and life skills,” he said.
The acting cultural head also tasked parents with offering consistent moral guidance to their children throughout the break, saying the absence of school routine may lead to idleness.
“Parents should not leave children to roam freely. Guide them, counsel them, and be their first teachers,” he advised.
Looking ahead to the second term, Ogwal Oyee urged parents to begin planning early for school fees and other academic requirements, warning against last-minute financial scrambling.
“Do not wait until schools reopen. Start saving and preparing now so that your children do not miss classes due to fees challenges,” he said.
The message from the Lango Cultural Foundation leader comes as schools across Uganda remain closed for the first term holiday, with parents and guardians expected to resume preparations for the second term in the coming weeks.
