The Director of Denie Foundation formerly Denise Foundation, Fred Ssemmanda is concerned about parents relaxing while their children opt for early marriages.
Several children fall trap of long holidays’ interruptions forcing them consent to early marriages despite the low physical, emotional, sexual and psychosocial development and hereafter dropping out of school.
To fight the reckless practice, Ssemanda while addressing parents whose children are supported under his foundation from villages of Mannya, Nseese, Kifamba and Kalongo in Kifamba Sub- County-Rakai district asked them to keenly monitor their children’s behaviour ahead of school re-opening.
December holiday is usually the longest academic break in Uganda, almost stretching to three months.
Such holidays sometimes force students to lose academic knowledge, study habits and skills accumulated throughout the school year.
“Some parents treat their children’s weakness, especially the girl child, as an advantage to implement forced marriages in exchange for material wealth.” Ssemanda noted that their decisions instead lead to lack of health care, unwanted pregnancies and domestic violence.
Jude Ssentale, another official from Denie Foundation is afraid several parents in their area of operation (Rakai) intentionally back early marriages and others are reluctant towards taking children to school.
Maureen Kindikumwooyo, a widow at Nseese village says despite a modern generation, her fellow parents still need routine sensitization about the importance of education.
About Denie Foundation
Denie foundation is a non-government organization supporting less privileged children in Uganda. Some of the children sponsored to go back to school study from St. Nicholas Mannya, Nseese Primary School.
The foundation also supports community development initiatives. At the end of last year, it left smiles on the faces of community members through providing festive packages.
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