KAMPALA, Uganda (The New Vision), September 30, 2007:
We risk being abused by children in our old age, says Meldrine Nabalema, Social Worker
On September 20, 2007, The New Vision carried a front page story titled, “Child neglect tops rights abuses”. The statistics were alarming especially the increment of 77% from the previous period.
Child sacrifice, child trafficking, child labour, abduction, child soldiering, defilement, child prostitution and abuse were persisting in Uganda. The same day the five months old Ronald Muwonge’s picture was published, there was another case of child neglect by his parents.
These reported cases portray a challenge in our society. The report was read to the parliament and recommendations were given including setting up a commission of inquiry to investigate the problem of child sacrifice. This is commendable. The question is, what do we do individually and as a nation? What do you and I value? Our values are key in what is happening today in our homes, schools, churches, institutions and nation.
What parents value in the homes is passed on to the children and it is what we see happening all around us. The families groom the society we live in. What values do we hold in our different homes? It is very unfortunate when a parent values the objects in the home more than the lives there. Do you use people to get things or do you use things to get people? Wealth is the bottom line in child sacrifice, child trafficking, child labour and all the evil that children undergo. How sad!
It is not realistic to believe that one who values life can put another’s life at danger. Let us hold life in high regard. It is a gift that needs to be cherished. If you would like to live a happy life, so does your neighbour. This includes the children. When a child is conceived, that is a life that deserves the best that life can give. Our constitution is very clear on who a child is: below 18 year of age. These children need our love, care, protection, provision and all the basics of life. They don’t deserve all the abuse they are receiving. Together in our different roles we can stop child neglect in Uganda.
Let us offer the best to our children; in our schools, churches, hospitals, institutions and in every place. Let them see love. What goes round comes round. It would be saddening in the years to come if our papers will be reporting more abuse among the elderly. A stitch in time saves nine. Our children need us and we need them. Let us do our best to save them, our children our future.
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