Priest Urges Unmarried Teachers to Marry Amidst Parental Child Abuse Concerns

Msgr. Vincent De Paul Mukiibi, the Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kasana-Luweero, has publicly encouraged unmarried teachers to embrace matrimony. This advice stems from concerns shared by parents who feel uneasy entrusting their children to single educators.

Msgr. Mukiibi stated that numerous parents have confided in him, expressing their apprehension about the possibility of increased child abuse risks when unmarried individuals are responsible for their children’s supervision in schools. He urged teachers who are currently single to consider settling down and encouraged those in premarital relationships to formalize their unions through marriage.

These remarks were made during the Diocesan Teachers’ Day celebrations in Luwero. Msgr. Mukiibi also reminded teachers that the schools they serve are diocesan institutions and encouraged their active participation in diocesan programs. Furthermore, he advised them to prioritize their health, advocating for healthy lifestyles, moderated alcohol consumption, and balanced diets supplemented by regular exercise to prevent lifestyle-related illnesses.

Concerns regarding child protection in schools within the Kasana-Luweero Diocese are not entirely new. In 2012, the then-Bishop, Paul Ssemogerere, highlighted issues of child sexual abuse in Catholic Church-supported schools. At the time, allegations of a teacher sexually abusing a pupil at St. Augustine Primary School brought further attention to the matter, prompting calls for collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Police to investigate the extent of such abuse. The Kasana-Luweero Diocese encompasses Luwero, Nakaseke, and Nakasongola districts and oversees over 150 educational institutions.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/parents-fear-unmarried-teachers-may-pose-child-abuse-risks-priest-5494970