First lady Janet Museveni urges fathers not to abandon their families

MUHAMAD MATOVU 

The First lady and the minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataha Museveni has urged fathers to take full responsibility for their families stating that fathers are pivotal in the emotional upbringing and wellbeing of their children.

She made the statements during the celebrations of belated Fathers's Day at Kololo Independence grounds over the weekend.

She noted that the child’s primary relationship with his or her father can affect the child’s future relationships with friends and spouses.

She urged fathers to be good care takers and disciplinarians to their children.

“The fathers are pivotal in the family and the children feel free. Let’s not say that mothers don’t play their role they do things but they do things not meant for them," she said.

She noted that fathers should exhibit good characters such being loving, kind, supportive and protective to their children especially during the early stages.

“Fathers are the source of security for the family from a very early age the children look up to their fathers and the security of their homes, “she noted.

She also decried the increasing teenage pregnancies, premarital sex, lack of disciplines among the school going children making some of them victims to sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

“A girl between the age 15 and 19 years is already a mother, or pregnant with the first child," she said.

Meanwhile the executive director of Family Life Network, Dr. Steven Langa challenged fathers to fulfil their responsibilities especially when its comes to child upbringing.