Stakeholders in Greater Kabale District have partly attributed rising cases of sexual harassment among learners and students in schools to poor parenting.
This concern was raised during a high-level meeting held on Friday, July 4, 2025, at Kirigime Guest House in Kabale Municipality under the Strengthening Citizens’ Engagement and Public Accountability (SCEPA) Project.
The workshop, organized by the Local Sustainable Communities Organization (LOSCO) in partnership with the Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) and supported by the embassies of Denmark, Ireland and Sweden, brought together civil society leaders, education officials, local authorities and opinion leaders.
Christopher Ndyabegyera, the Rukiga District Inspector of Schools, noted that poor parenting is a major contributing factor to sexual harassment in schools. He specifically blamed the negligence of parents regarding their children’s dress code, citing the increasing trend of children wearing torn trousers and revealing dresses, fashion choices he said many parents fail to monitor or question.
“Parents are not paying enough attention to how their children dress. The widespread acceptance of indecent clothing like damaged jeans and tight outfits is worrying and contributes to increased vulnerability to sexual harassment,” Ndyabegyera stated.
He also acknowledged that the issue is not solely rooted in homes, but that some acts of sexual harassment originate within schools themselves. He emphasized that the behavior and attitudes children bring from home can influence what happens at school.
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Rubanda District Police Commander Abel Barugahare urged parents to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their children from risks such as sexual harassment. He stressed the importance of discouraging indecent dressing and maintaining open communication with children.
Agnes Success, an opinion leader from Muhanga Town Council in Rukiga District, expressed concern over the dormancy of senior women and men teachers in many schools. She pointed out that their inaction has left a vacuum in mentorship and emotional support for learners. She encouraged parents to spend more time counseling and guiding their children.
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Davis Akampurira, Executive Director of the Youth Elevation Initiative, called on school inspectors to strengthen teacher capacity building. He proposed training teachers to take on parental roles within schools and to conduct regular counseling sessions with students.
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Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson, recommended the establishment of school-based committees branded with the slogan “Say No to Sex”, which would include security officers to promote sensitization and preventive measures.
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Albert Taremwa, Executive Director of LOSCO, said the forum’s recommendations would be compiled and presented to relevant government bodies for prompt action.
