By Flavia Ajok
Parents have been blamed for poor parenting which has seen an increase in use of drugs among the youths in Hoima city.
In an exclusive interview with Spice FM, various stakeholders, including religious leaders, Community Development Officer (CDO), leaders of ghetto youths among other leaders shared their perspectives on the issue with most of them targeting parents for neglecting their crucial role of raising responsible children in their homes.
Ms. Susan Nafuna, the Acting Community Development Officer for Hoima City explained that children belong to parents and not the city thus it is the parents who are supposed to do a lot in raising their children in a proper way.
Nafuna stressed that the increased drug abuse among the youths is mostly due to poor parenting saying at times these children come from well-to-do families but have instead been spoilt by their parents in the name of showing them great love.
Fr. Patrick Museveni, the Communications Director of Hoima diocese says there is need to first remove the enablers of the drug abuse among the youths adding that the increased happening places are also to blame in the City. He has called for implementation of regulations regarding the production and access to these drugs.
Fr. Museveni also emphasizes the need for parents to take a more active role in guiding and monitoring their children to prevent substance abuse adding that rules and regulations must be put in place by parents at home as well as by-laws to regulate bars, above all instil fear of God in the children.
Richard Asokon, the Bunyoro Ghetto President disclosed that being idle, and disobeying parents among the youths has led them into resorting to use of drugs.
He now calls upon the government to support the youths with different income generating activities that can help them earn a living and also talk to them in a soft and understanding way if they are to change their lifestyles.
Brain Kaboyo, the Mayor of Hoima City has advised youths to avoid peer groups saying that the city authority has kicked off sensitization campaigns as a way of supporting the youths build their lives in a responsible way.
