Parents, guardians should ensure their children are safe during

Most school-going children have now broken off for the first term holidays. They will spend about a month at home with their parents, relatives or guardians.
However, my concern is; how safe are these children? I believe Uganda is safe but the way of life in many of our communities is increasingly becoming unfriendly to children. We have lost many children to child sacrifice rituals, kidnapping, trafficking, accidents, murderers and preventable diseases.
Our girl children are particularly vulnerable to sugar daddies and con men or gangs that abuse them sexually. As a result, cases of defilement, rape and murder of young girls have become rampant. Boys have become targets of drug dealers and betting gangs in their neighbourhoods.
Also, some parents do not keep an eye on their children, especially when it comes to what they are watching on TV, whom they are playing or spending time with, what they are eating, places they go to and how they performed at school.
My first appeal goes to parents, guardians or relatives who are directly responsible for the children. They should ensure their children keep good company, and are in good health. Children should also be encouraged to do revision during holidays and to complete their holiday packages.
To Muslim parents, I recommend the enrollment of children into a Madrasa or hiring a teacher of Islam so that those who are not studying Islam in their schools learn their religion.
To parents whose workplaces are accommodative to children, they should go with them as a way of keeping an eye on them as well as training them to work.
Parents should make it a point to have talks with their children and counsel them against risky behaviours that could jeopardise their future. Local authorities and security personnel should also come up with measures to protect children.
Haji Nsereko Mutumba,
PRO, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council. pro_umsc@yahoo.com