Girl child activists blame failure by parents to pay fees on extreme poverty

Denish Ongora (Denish.Ongora@vol.co.ug)

Lira

Girl child activists have decried the high cost of education which has limited children from poor families from attaining quality education.

At a function organized by Plan –Uganda, Angwec Cinderella a P.7 candidate of Abolet primary school yesterday went to the office of the mayor, Lira city council Sam Atul to portray the leadership potential of the girl child.

Addressing journalists at the office of the mayor, Angwec 13, said that much as she wants to become an important person in society like a mayor, she fears that she may not make it due to inability by her parents to afford her school education.

Angwec asked government to put in place programs to support children from poor backgrounds to attain high level of education.

Angwec noted that if she was to be a mayor, she would rehabilitate roads that are in poor state in Lira city to curb road crashes.

She also tasked leaders to strengthen the fight against corruption and the government to create more projects geared towards poverty alleviation.

Lira city deputy mayor, Rebecca Alwedo Ogole welcomed the initiative which she said encourages girls to work hard for the future.

In a similar function in Alebtong district Jenifer Akello a senior two student of Mentor secondary school-Lira city assumed the office of Alebtong district chairman DK Odongo.

Jenifer Akello cautioned parents against forcing their girls into early marriage due to greed for wealth.

Akello also encouraged girls to remain in school to build a bright future.

Alebtong district chairman DK Odongo advised the girls to dream big and work to realize their dreams.

Plan International Uganda today celebrated the belated International day of the girl child in Alebtong. The day is marked on 11/10/2022, annually.