As more emphasis is placed on grooming girls into responsible citizens, boys have often been neglected.
Some parents raise boys harshly, believing they must prepare them for future challenges. Others neglect their training in various activities, assuming they will eventually get married and their wives will take on all responsibilities.
Unfortunately, some parents and guardians believe that simply being a boy qualifies them to perform heavy labour, assuming they are naturally strong. This mindset subjects boys to child labour, assigning those duties that can harm their health. These include working long hours on farms instead of attending school, vending groceries on the streets to pay for their education, grazing cattle, tending to poultry, and cutting firewood, among other heavy tasks.
This has negatively impacted boys’ health, as by the time they reach normal working age, they often suffer from fatigue and health complications such as backaches and joint pain. These issues can, in turn, affect their mental well-being and economic prospects.
This often differs from the way girls are raised, as they are typically assigned softer, simpler tasks at home, such as sweeping, washing dishes, and caring for younger siblings, with a few exceptions, like those who subject girls to heavy work such as cooking for the family.
Girls are often trained and prepared to become responsible women, particularly for the benefit of their future husbands, while boys are not adequately prepared to be good husbands to their wives.
In response to these issues, Eng. Ronald M. Kibuuka, Director of the Boys to Men project, initiated the Plight of the Boy Child campaign to raise public awareness and promote positive changes in the upbringing of boys. The project aims to empower boys to become responsible fathers and leaders in the children communities and operates under the Brotherhood of St. Andrews Africa.
According to Eng. Kibuuka, the research they conducted reveals alarming statistics that demand action: 20% of men are unaware they have fathered children, 40% have abandoned their children, 45% have fathered children but failed to connect with them emotionally, only 5% provide for and engage with their children and 25% of households are headed by women. He emphasized the need for greater attention to the boy child to cultivate responsible men and prevent long-term challenges.
During the launch of the Plight of the Boy Child Project, at Mama FM office in Kisaasi, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, His Grace Dr. Samuel Steven Kazimba Mugalu, urged the government of Uganda to complement its efforts in funding girl child projects by also supporting initiatives for the upbringing of boys.
He suggested that the government should allocate a specific budget for the boy child and proposed that a minister be appointed to oversee boy child affairs.
The Archbishop noted that while the vulnerability of the girl child deserves attention, the focus on it has become excessive and extravagant, often leaving the boy child overlooked.
This has led boys to feel undervalued, viewing girls as privileged, which can cause them to act out in an attempt to gain their parents’ attention. “Boys need attention, affection, guidance, correction, and connection just like girls do, so they feel valued,” he emphasized.
Similarly, Jennifer Nankabirwa from Save One Organization welcomed the Plight of the Boy Child campaign, expressing concern over the prioritization of the girl child. She noted that this imbalance has led to conflicts and breakdowns in marriages, particularly when poorly raised men marry well-groomed women.
She pointed out that during marriage preparations, brides receive significantly more attention, focusing on their readiness for marriage, while men do not receive similar support. Additionally, she noted that girls are often given extra points in university admissions compared to boys, leading boys to feel undervalued and demotivated. This campaign is in partnership with Mama FM, schools such as Kings way P/s, St. Mbaga Kiwatule, Misindye church of Uganda, Nvunaanwa P/s, Modern P/s, African Hearts junior school, Kisaasi modern school, Success schools, Boy child adolescent skilling foundation among others, under the theme: THE LOST BOY
