Amir Kamba, the deputy Resident City Commissioner for Bardege-Layibi division in Gulu City has cautioned Parents against neglecting their parental roles as the first term holiday gets closer.
Kamba says many youth and children are struggling with social problems like drug abuse and alcoholism because parents neglect their responsibilities of watching and teaching their children from home.
He says some children are suffering violence at the hands of their mothers and parents which forces them to leave home and become street children hence engaging in criminal activities such as robbery.
Kamba says there is a significant rise in crimes with looting and burglary within Bardege-Layibi especially in areas like Lacor, Kasubi and Layibi where shops are looted and merchandise taken by such children because parents aren’t monitoring and guiding their children.
He urges parents and the community to be responsible by reporting cases of child neglect and violence against children to the responsible authorities.
Jackie Namono, the CEO at Friends of Children Circle Uganda says increasing community sensitization and advocacy is key to ending child neglect in the community.
The Police crime report of 2025 indicates that cases of child neglect reduced significantly from 6,505 in 2022 to 3,023 in 2025.
This represents a decrease of 3,484 cases.
By Martin Odong
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