The Minister of State for Gender and Culture, Hon. Peace Mutuuzo, has called on Ugandans to abandon cultural practices and traditions that she says do not add value to children’s growth and future prospects.
In remarks made during a brief media interaction, Mutuuzo questioned the relevance of certain traditional teachings, particularly those passed down to young girls at an early age.
“Visiting the bush does not add anything; it won’t even protect your marriage. All we need is money to take care of our children. We need to teach them things that help them, instead of systems and cultures that will not add anything to them,” she said.
The minister argued that Uganda is part of an increasingly multicultural world, where some traditional norms may not hold significance, especially if children later marry outside their ethnic communities or even outside the country.
“That child might not even get married to a Muganda. They could get married to a Nigerian or South African who has no idea about these cultures, and it won’t be of use,” she noted.
Mutuuzo emphasized the need to prioritise mindset change, urging parents to instill values that equip children to pursue education and financial independence rather than focusing prematurely on marriage preparation.
“As Ugandans, we are trying to get rid of systems, traditions and norms that do not add value to us, and that starts with the mindset. You need to ask yourself, ‘If I do something in particular, does it really add value to me? Will it really protect my marriage?’” she said.
She also expressed concern about early exposure of young girls to marriage-related teachings, particularly those delivered by traditional aunts, commonly known as Sengas. According to Mutuuzo, such practices contribute to school dropouts.
“Twenty-five percent of girls drop out of school because of these things Sengas teach them. They tell them about marriage at very young ages, as early as 13 years old. Their hormones must react to these things. Let them grow up and make their choices. Stop instilling things that do not add value to them,” she added.
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