RWENZORI REGION FACES INCREASED CASES OF FAMILY NEGLECT

By Sylvia Kugonza
www.mknewslink.com
In Kabarole

Cases of men abandoning families in Bunyangabu and Kabarole district are on rise a problem which is affecting children’s growth and wellbeing.
Children from such families struggle to get school fees for themselves as early as at primary level which is affecting their education.
The Rwenzori west community liaisons officer Solomon Mugisa has disclosed that at least 30 cases of family neglect are reported to police in one month.
Mugisa said that most cases are men neglecting their responsibilities to women.
The common cases are failing to provide food for the children, paying school fees among others.
Mugisa attributed the increased cases to polygamy, alcoholism, and poverty.
Mugisa further explained that this has affected many children resulting to drug abuse, family break up, early marriages among others.
Nyakaisiki Annette of Kabarole district who did not want to use her voice, a single mother explained that her husband abandoned the family after producing two pairs of twins and one other child convincing them that he was leaving for work but till now he has never returned
According to her, life has been complicated for her and the five children after they were chased from the house where the husband left them due to debts.
Currently the family is at the mercy of a well-wisher who temporarily offered them house as they look for where to go which the mother says they don’t have.
Pan cakes business is the only source for the children’s school fees and all the children from the young one to the oldest participate in baking, frying and selling of pancakes to look for their school fees and other scholastic materials.
This is a daily routine for these children in holidays, weekends and sometimes in the evening after classes despite other home cores like fetching water.
The single mother cannot currently dig after getting stomach operation thus calling for good Samaritans interventions for the future of her children.