At least 2.68 million boys and young men [1.35 boys and 1.33 young men] are expected to be empowered in a period of one year when the Boy Child Uplifting Program (BCUP) will run.
The program which is expected to be officially launched today [Saturday, July 1] in Kampala by Mr JC Muyingo, the State Minister of higher education will run between July 1, 2023, and June 31, 2024.
Speaking at the press conference on Friday, June 30 in Kampala, Mr Edward Kakembo Nsubuga, the District Governor of Rotary District 9213 said that this program will focus on uplifting the lives of boys and young men who have been left behind for years
“Recognising our society has predominantly concentrated on initiatives empowering the girl child, with only 13% of documented efforts directed towards mentoring boys,” he said adding,
“A number of studies and reports have stated that the exclusion of the Boy child has had profound consequences on a generation of young men. These consequences include increased crime rates, low self-esteem, prone to violent habits, alcoholism, drug abuse, and increasing school dropout incidences,”
Ms Jennifer Mirembe Ssensuwa, the Chairperson of BCUP said that the initiative will be sustained through Rotary’s programs like Basic Education and Literacy and the Economic and Community Development across the country.
“We shall use these to reach out and impact on the communities they live in. Collaborative partnerships will also be forged with religious institutions, schools and tertiary institutions, government bodies, NGOs, prisons, rehabilitation centers, financial institutions, private organizations, and local community leadership structures to ensure a comprehensive and sustained impact,” she said
Ms Leilah Kamulegeya, the public relations officer of AAR health services and one of the implementers of the program said, “This program is critical and timely as we need to address the issues faced by boys, including crime, drug abuse, terrorism, and truancy. I also believe the success of this initiative will lead to a positive transformation of society, promoting skill development, entrepreneurship, and healthier family dynamics,”
