KAMPALA, Uganda: Parents have been urged to take on their role as the first and most important change agents in their children’s lives during this festive season by creating time to engage with them, listen to their concerns, and offer guidance where necessary.
Dr. Maggie Kigozi made the remarks during an exclusive interview with this website at Kabira Country Club, while delivering her Christmas message to the nation.
Dr. Kigozi, a renowned investment expert, entrepreneur, feminist, sportswoman, farmer, and Director at Crown Beverages Limited (CBL), the manufacturers of Pepsi soft drink products emphasized the importance of parents using the festive break to discuss critical issues affecting their children and to seek lasting solutions.
She noted that while schools play a vital role in providing academic instruction and discipline, it is the primary responsibility of parents and close guardians to instill moral values in children. These include integrity, discipline, hard work, and respect for others—values she said are essential for overcoming today’s societal challenges.
Dr. Kigozi added that discussions between parents and children should cover topics such as future aspirations, challenges faced at school, and relationships with friends, teachers, elders, and strangers. She explained that open communication enables parents to offer timely guidance whenever challenges arise.
She cautioned that although granting children a degree of freedom is not necessarily wrong, excessive freedom without guidance may expose them to moral risks in the future. She encouraged parents to involve children in household chores and to help them acquire practical life skills within their communities, including vocational training opportunities, to prepare them for self-employment and independence later in life.
Turning to government matters, Dr. Kigozi commended President Yoweri Museveni for creating a conducive investment environment that has attracted both local and foreign investors to the industrial sector, resulting in increased job creation, particularly for young adults.
She also urged citizens to actively participate in the forthcoming electioneering process, reminding them that it is their constitutional duty to elect leaders of their choice. She appealed to the public to uphold peace throughout the process for the continued stability and prosperity of Uganda.
