Violence against children, the voices of Ugandan ... - Raising Voices

Adults’ VoicesChildren are made to miss school every week tocarry heavy loads on market days. I know one girlwho had to walk two kilometres, to the market withtwo heavy bunches of bananas.male, teacher, KaseseOverworking girl children at home. They are madeto do all the household work, such as sweeping,cooking, grinding millet or sorghum, cleaningutensils, and all this while she is carrying a youngbaby on her back.female, community leader, ApacMany girls are by force circumcised and thenmarried to older men.female, parent, NakapiripiritSome parents take their children to the policestation and ask them to lock him up for twoto three days. Imagine doing that to your ownchild especially when we all know what thosecells are like.female, parent, KaseseGirls are seen as property for the family. Theythink of her as the number of cows they aregoing to get for the bride price.female, teacher, NakapiripiritParents sleep on comfortable mattresses, whilechildren are made to sleep on mats or bananaleaves on the floor.male, teacher, WakisoMany parents refuse to pay school fees or moneyfor lunch, yet you find them drinking from morningto night.female, teacher, ApacChildren are denied food, while they work allday for the family. The father eats the bestmeat, and children get left over juice or nothing.female, community leader, WakisoMob justice [under instruction from the parent] ofpeers is common in this area, especially when thechild proves to be a menace to parents.male, parent, NakapiripiritA child can wake up early and still be workingtill late at night. This is too much for youngchildren.male, parent, Apac86 Part Three Adults’ Rationale