The minister of state gender and cultuer affairs, Honourable peace Mutuuzo has called upon families to emberk on government programmes in order to save themselves from the bitting poverty and also uplift thier economy especially during these difficult covid 19 times.
speaking to journalists at the Media Center, Hon. Mutuuzo, said that the Covid 19 pandemic has greatly affected the family setting with children being sent home and forced to embrace virtual learning for the countinuity of their studies this greatly affectng the uneducated and rural families.
“with the economy coming to a total stand still, many family bread winners lost thier jobs and the effect was mostly felt by children of low income households who are especially sensitive to social shockes” she said.
however according to the minister, although the pandemic had its desersters, it also came with some advantages such as family interaction and bonding,creating more time for one to reflict and reconisder one’s lifestyle, promoted innovations and also expanded economic grwoth.
other challenges regestered due to the pandemic included a rise in child defilement with a total of 13,682 children being defiled although an 8.9 percent decline in the volume of crimes was reported according to the 2020 police report adding that these crimes were mostly carried out by close relatives such as uncles, fathers aunties among others.
It is due to the above challenge that the minister advised families to take up government programmes in order to elevete themselves from poverty
“i call upon family members to take advantage of the existing Government programmes like the Uganda Women Entreprenuership programme, Youth Livelihood Programme, Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment, Opertion Wealth Creation and the Disability Grant among others to access capital and agricultual inputs to bring aive or rebuild the family livlihoods” the minister said.
the international Day of the Family is celebrated evey 15th may however Uganda will celebrate it on 14th may at fairway hotel with the theme “COVID-19 pandemic and the family in Uganda:Challenges opportunities and lessons learnt”.
