Ibanda, Western Region, Uganda – A prominent local leader has urged the public and civil society to prioritize the education and empowerment of boys, emphasizing that true gender equality hinges on the development of both genders. The call was made today by Patrick Turyamureba Payi, Chairperson of Kitagwenda Town Council LCIII and Executive Director of Rwenzori Fm Eiraka Radio, while addressing attendees as the chief guest at St. Paul’s Cathedral North West Ankole Diocese during a celebration of Mary’s Day.
Turyamureba expressed his concern over the apparent singular focus on supporting the girl child by civil society organizations and the government. “I wonder all civil organization and entire public is keen on supporting girl child and no one is bothered with boy child,” he stated.
He highlighted the alarming trend of boys dropping out of school and frequenting film halls, leading to negative behaviors such as drug abuse, alcoholism, and theft. Turyamureba cautioned that neglecting the boy child while solely promoting girls’ education could lead to an imbalance in society. “Imagine having empowered women with uninformed men in the society who will marry them and who will be the head family?” he questioned, underscoring the potential for a “disaster” of educated women alongside “weak men.”
The issue of boy child welfare was brought to the forefront earlier in the event by Maama Canon Jean Nyonyozi Magezi, President of the North West Ankole Diocese Mothers Union and Family Life. She mentioned promoting the education of both girls and boys, alongside combating gender-based violence, as key objectives of the Mothers Union and Family Life.
Maama Jean, in her final year as president, commended men who support their wives in their service to God and praised the women of North West Ankole under the Mothers Union and Family Life for their unity in fostering the development of the Diocese and families.
Adding his voice to the concern, Chris Bishaka, Head of laity at St. Paul’s Cathedral Ibanda, lamented the current state of some young men. “I wonder the can of boys we are raising today, the boys who don’t want to grow into men, they want money they don’t want to work, they want children don’t want to marry,” Bishaka expressed.
Rt. Rev Amos Magezi, the Bishop of North West Ankole Diocese, echoed these worries and offered prayers for God to cultivate a generation of strong men and to protect boys. He emphasized the vulnerability of the boy child to negative influences, asserting that a thriving and secure society necessitates strong men.
