Uganda's Boy Child: A Growing Crisis as NGOs Prioritize Girls' Empowerment

In Oyam District, a visible shift in development focus has sparked concerns about the boy child’s future. While organizations like the Foundation for Inclusive Community Help (FICH) actively train young girls in marketable skills such as hairdressing, creating pathways to economic independence, a critical demographic is being overlooked: boys.

Many girls participating in these programs are school dropouts, some escaping early marriages or facing financial barriers to continuing education. The FICH initiative, for instance, offers comprehensive training not just in technical skills but also in business management, aiming to equip these young women for self-sufficiency. As one trainee confidently stated, “This skill will feed me. I will not depend on any man.”

However, this targeted empowerment of girls has inadvertently left boys on the periphery. Experts like Gloria Aceng, a business development service provider, warn of a looming crisis. “Men, by nature, are expected to lead the family. But if they are not empowered, then they are fundamentally unable to perform those traditional roles,” she observes. This imbalance forces women into roles traditionally held by men, contributing to increased family instability.

Christine Apio, a MELA specialist, echoes this sentiment, noting that without structured support, many boys are turning to substance abuse, petty crime, and idleness. “Our singular concentration on the girl child has inadvertently built a generation of weak men and poor decision-makers,” she states.

The consequences are evident in the juvenile justice system, where the Probation and Social Welfare Officer for Oyam District, Sandra Akello, reports a high number of boys facing serious charges. “The juveniles brought before us are mainly boys, facing severe charges of defilement, robbery, burglary, theft, and even murder,” she notes.

While FICH acknowledges these concerns and plans to address them in future strategies, the call for a balanced approach to empowering both genders is growing louder. Community leaders emphasize that a prosperous Uganda requires both capable men and empowered women to maintain a healthy social fabric and economic stability.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda) https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/the-rising-concern-over-uganda-s-neglected-boy-child-as-ngos-focus-on-empowering-girls-5506158