Children in Luuka District have formally petitioned the government, both local and national, demanding urgent prioritization of their needs in planning and budgeting, and a concerted effort to combat rampant child abuses. The powerful plea was made during the recent Day of the African Child celebrations held at Nakabugu Primary School, under the poignant theme: “Planning and Budgeting for Childcare and Protection.”
The event served as a critical platform for young voices, highlighting the pressing need for districts to integrate children’s welfare, including adolescent-friendly, gender-responsive, and inclusive sexual reproductive health services, into their core planning and budgeting processes.
Speaking through the Nakabale Primary School Children’s Advocacy Club, the young petitioners articulated their aspirations and demands with clarity and conviction. “As children we want to grow up healthy, educated and safe to achieve our dreams and full potentials. We therefore demand that during planning and budgeting whether at home, district or national levels, please prioritize children’s needs to secure and protect our future,” they asserted in their collective presentation.
Among the critical issues highlighted in their petition were the escalating rates of teenage pregnancies, defilement, and early marriages. The children tragically pointed out that these abuses are often perpetuated by parents who view their daughters as “economic assets,” negotiating their futures away for financial gain.
Their demands extended to strengthening community protection systems and legal frameworks to safeguard them from violence and exploitation. The children also called for a fundamental shift in harmful community and cultural practices, alongside the provision of basic necessities such as mid-day school meals, scholastic materials, and essential sanitary pads for girls, which are crucial for their continued education and well-being.
Reinforcing the urgency of the children’s plea, Vincent Njeho, a Project Officer with Plan International KOICA, urged leaders, parents, and communities to heed their cries. “The future of children matters. Let us focus, listen and respond to the children’s inner voices for protection, education and empowerment and collectively fight off these vices of teenage pregnancies, early marriages and other forms of child abuse until we are all equal,” Njeho passionately raised.Responding to the impassioned pleas, Luuka LCV Chairperson Simon Wakaze acknowledged the validity of the children’s concerns and pledged government support. Wakaze conceded that while Uganda possesses “adequate legislations” for child protection, the primary challenge lies in weak implementation and enforcement.
He highlighted existing governmental structures, stating that “we have designated structures with all vice chairpersons designated as secretaries for children.” Wakaze also revealed that Plan International, through KOICA, has facilitated the development of a children’s by-law specifically addressing child labor and teenage pregnancies in the district. Furthermore, he assured the children that the local government has this financial year “at least put provisions for children welfare to help them stay in schools and curb child labor,” demonstrating a budgetary commitment to their safety and education.
The Luuka children’s petition serves as a powerful reminder of the imperative to center young voices in development discourse. It underscores the broader challenge to districts to prioritize child-friendly, gender-responsive, and inclusive services in their planning and budgeting processes, ensuring a healthier, more protected future for the nation’s youth.
