Africa-Press – Uganda. As the long third-term holiday continues, parents and guardians across the country are being urged to take greater responsibility in safeguarding children—particularly teenage girls—who remain vulnerable to early pregnancies, exploitation, and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
The call comes amid growing concern over the risks young people face during extended school breaks, and follows a personal testimony from Juliette Engola, a Ugandan whose life journey highlights the consequences of inadequate guidance and protection.
Engola, who was born in Loro Village, Oyam District, and raised partly in Kenya, shared her story to emphasize the importance of peace, responsible parenting, and child protection.
She explained that her family fled to Kenya during the regime of former President Idi Amin when she was about eight years old. They settled in a village called Kuro, where most of her younger siblings were born.
“My family lived in exile during Idi Amin’s rule. I was taken there as a child, and my siblings were born there,” Engola recalled. “When we later returned to Uganda, life finally stabilised.”
She said her father later worked as a Marketing Manager at Uganda Airlines, allowing the family to live comfortably in Kampala. During this period, Engola attended East Kololo Primary School and later Buganda Road Primary School while the family lived in Kololo.
However, stability did not last. Following the fall of Tito Okello Lutwa’s government and the subsequent privatization of Uganda Airlines, her father lost his job. The family was forced to return to Oyam District, where Engola later became Chairperson of the Oyam Cooperative Union.
While still in school, Engola’s life took a painful turn. She joined Trinity College Nabbingo for her O-Level studies, but during her Senior Four third term, she became pregnant—an experience she says resulted from misplaced trust.
“I trusted someone I shouldn’t have,” she said. “I later realised I was pregnant, but I returned to school and completed my exams. No one even noticed during the pregnancy check-ups, and I passed well despite everything.”
Her dream was to become a lawyer, but that ambition was cut short after a cousin falsely informed her father that she no longer wanted to continue to A-Level. The misunderstanding led to her being chased away from home, forcing her to live with her elder sister.
At just 17 years old, Engola gave birth.
“I didn’t even understand what was happening in the labour ward,” she recounted. “I just felt exhausted until the midwife told me to push.”
Despite the hardships, Engola rebuilt her life and is now an entrepreneur and trainer. She says her experience underscores the need for parents to remain actively involved in their children’s lives, especially during long school holidays.
Following her testimony, several community members echoed calls for parents to adopt more proactive approaches to child supervision.
Julius Muyanja, a senior mechanic in Mulago, Kampala, encouraged parents to expose teenagers to practical skills.
“Let your children work with you,” he advised. “Whether you are a carpenter or a mechanic, take them along and teach them skills. Leaving them at home with television and phones only exposes them to harmful influences.”
Others appealed to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to strengthen monitoring of social and mainstream media, citing increased exposure of young people to explicit and harmful content online. They noted, however, that social media can also be a powerful tool for learning, innovation, and business if properly regulated.
Call for Peace Ahead of 2026 Elections
Businessman Collins Katongole also urged Ugandans to reject violence before, during, and after the general elections scheduled for 15 January 2026.
“Election violence can force families into exile, just like what happened to Engola’s family,” he said. “We must protect our children and our country by choosing peace.”
Engola’s story stands as a reminder that many teenagers—especially girls—face risks that can shape the rest of their lives. Community members and leaders continue to call for active parenting, mentorship, and vigilance throughout the holiday season.
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