As the long third-term holiday continues, parents and guardians across the country are being urged to take greater responsibility in safeguarding children, particularly teenage girls who remain vulnerable to early pregnancy, exploitation and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
The appeal follows a personal testimony by Juliette Engola, whose life story has been shared as a cautionary example of the risks children can face without adequate guidance, protection and open communication at home.
Engola, who was born in Loro Village in Oyam District and raised partly in Kenya, said her family fled Uganda during the regime of former president Idi Amin when she was about eight years old. The family settled in a village called Kuro, where most of her younger siblings were born.
“My family lived in exile during Idi Amin’s rule. I was taken there as a child, and my siblings were born there. When we returned to Uganda, life finally stabilised. My father worked as a marketing manager at Uganda Airlines, and we lived comfortably,” Engola recalled.
She said her early experiences of displacement are the reason she strongly advocates for peaceful elections and nonviolent political transitions.
Engola attended East Kololo Primary School and later Buganda Road Primary School while the family lived in Kololo.
However, her life changed again following the fall of the Tito Okello Lutwa government. After Uganda Airlines was privatised, her father lost his job, forcing the family to return to Oyam District.
She later became chairperson of the Oyam Cooperative Union, but her personal life took a painful turn while she was still a student.
Engola joined Trinity College Nabbingo for O-Level studies. During her Senior Four third term, she became pregnant, an experience she attributes to misplaced trust.
“I trusted someone I shouldn’t have. I later realised I was pregnant, but I returned to school and completed my exams. No one even noticed during pregnancy checkups. I passed well despite everything,” she said.
She said her dream was to become a lawyer, but misunderstandings at home worsened her situation. According to Engola, a cousin falsely told her father that she no longer wanted to continue to A-Level.
Her father subsequently chased her away from home, forcing her to live with her elder sister. At just 17 years old, she gave birth.
“I didn’t even understand what was happening in the labour ward. I simply felt tired until the midwife told me to push,” she recounted.
Despite the setbacks, Engola said she later rebuilt her life and is now an entrepreneur and trainer. She said her experience highlights the importance of parents staying closely involved in their children’s lives, especially during school holidays.
Her testimony has prompted renewed calls from community members for parents to provide guidance and constructive engagement for young people.
Julius Muyanja, a senior mechanic in Mulago, Kampala, urged parents to expose teenagers to practical skills during the holiday.
“Let your children work with you. Whether you are a carpenter or a mechanic, take them along and teach them skills. Leaving them home with television and phones only exposes them to harmful influences,” Muyanja said.
Other members of the public appealed to the Uganda Communications Commission to strengthen monitoring of social and mainstream media content, citing increased exposure of young people to explicit and harmful material online.
They noted that while social media poses risks, it can also be a valuable tool for learning, business and positive engagement if properly regulated.
Businessman Katongole Collins also appealed for peace ahead of the general elections scheduled for January 15, 2026.
“Election violence can force families into exile, just like what happened to Engola’s family. We must protect our children and our country by choosing peace,” he said.
Engola’s story continues to resonate as a reminder that many teenagers, especially girls, face risks that can shape the rest of their lives.
Community leaders and parents are being encouraged to practise active parenting, mentorship and vigilance throughout the holiday period.