As youth around the country continue to go through different challenges in life which have pushed many of them in acts that are sometimes harmful to their lives, One can not avoid to ask questions regarding who is to blame as far as the cause and solution to such challenges are concerned.
In this, SRHR Alliance launched the annual National Interfaith Dialogues with religious leaders from all denominations that bring together religious leaders to discuss how faith based approach can address the causes and effects of teenage pregnancies in young people in Uganda. This dialogue is a forum for the religious leaders to hold themselves accountable on their role in addressing the SRHR challenges young people in Uganda struggle with.
Since religious leaders have more platforms where they easily engage the youth, children and adolescents in the same space, SRHR Alliance used this chance to involve religious leaders in the struggle towards resolving SRHR issues of the youth and equipping them with knowledge on how to manage their lives.
During the Annual National High Level Inter faith Dialogue on Health of Adolescents and young people at hotel Africana in Kampala, SRHR Country Director Olga Dauphine Namuguza called upon religious leaders to continue being champions for young people’s adolescent health while preaching love, forgiveness, and transformation.
In His speech while officially opening the dialogue, Hon Salongo Michael Mbwatekamwa noted that, the youth are mostly challenged by teenage pregnancies, child marriages, STIs, GBV and mental health which is alarming. He expressed need for awareness regarding youth sensitive issues as away of finding means of solving the challenges affecting the youth to give them a safe space.
Principal Education Officer from the Ministry of Education Henry Semakula appreciated the religious leaders engagement in solving youth challenges since the youth easily listen and believe what they tell them. However, he challenged everyone irrespective of religious affiliations, leadership levels, parents, guardians to work together to see that the challenges affecting youth are addressed.
Babirye Gloria, a youth with earing impairment expressed dissatisfaction over the way churches don’t cater for the youth with special needs like her, through providing sign language interpreters and other necessities, which she says leaves them behind.
In the same way, the Woman MP Wakiso district Ethel Betty Naluyima challenged religious leaders never to be afraid of pointing out youth issues if they are to fully solve them. She challenged parents to groom their children right from childhood through bringing them close to them so that they can tell them about youth challenges in a friendly manner, thereby preparing them for the youthful age.
On behalf of the Orthodox church, Grace Kazibwe appealed to SRHR Alliance to provide handbooks to religious leaders so that they can have information about youth challenges and get similar approaches on resolving them.
Religious leaders from different faith affiliations had something to say:
Rev Can Gideon Byamugisha representing the Catholic church testified how he has managed to raise his 3 daughters during their adolescence stage and helped them overcome temptations and traps. ” We need your prayers since we have to keep true to our faith and at the same time. we have to look at the reality in solving some youth issues as well. ” He stressed
The church of Uganda Provincial youth and students coordinator Rev Richard Rukundo revealed that he believes that they have not yet done enough on issues concerning the youth but after the policy formulation, he knows things will be better and the issues concerning the youth will be handled.
