Mother’s Day: Archbishop tips couples on moral parenting
NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine (left), and Nakawa East MP Nsubuga Balimwezo together with their spouses during the Good Shepherd Sunday at Rubaga Cathedral in Kampala yesterday. PHOTO | MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI
What you need to know:
- Archbishop Kasujja encouraged couples to use their families as “first schools” of values.
As Uganda joined the world to celebrate Mother’s Day yesterday, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, the Papal Nuncio Emeritus to Belgium, urged married couples to build morally upright families rooted in Christian values. Presiding over Mass at Rubaga Cathedral, also marked as Good Shepherd Sunday, Archbishop Kasujja encouraged couples to use their families as “first schools” of values such as sharing, kindness, discipline, and moral responsibility.
“We must go beyond paying school fees. We should be present in our children’s lives, teaching them morals, hope, and responsibility for nation-building,” he said. He cautioned parents against spoiling children with excessive pocket money, warning that it leads to arrogance, disrespect, and the belief that respect is tied to wealth. Archbishop Kasujja also challenged parents to reject selfishness and individualism in the home, saying, “Let us instill discipline and guide children to grow up with the right mentality.” Among the congregants were National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu and his wife Barbie Itungo, who joined other couples in renewing their marriage vows. Nakawa East MP Ronald Balimwezo and Wakiso Woman MP Betty Naluyima also attended.
Appeal to youth
Mr Kyagulanyi urged youth to embrace formal church marriages, saying they reinforce spiritual and moral commitment. “I encouraged my friend Eddie Mutwe to join me at such events to reflect on formalising his union. Sadly, he is now remanded in Masaka. We must continue praying for all those in similar situations,” he said. Ms Itungo appealed to parents, especially mothers, to model good behaviour for their children by fostering unity and respect. “A true mother should never teach division. We must teach our children that all people are equal regardless of tribe or origin,” she said. Quoting scripture, she added, “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me.’ He didn’t exclude anyone. That’s the example we must pass on.” She also urged mothers to speak out against tribalism and harmful stereotypes. “Mothers should be the voice of courage in the home. Let us raise children who see fellow Ugandans as neighbours, not enemies,” she said.
Situation at hand
The celebrations come at a time when many Ugandan women still face challenges such as poverty, domestic violence, poor health, and human trafficking—factors that affect family stability and moral development. Over the past two decades, Uganda has witnessed increasing concern over the erosion of parental responsibility and moral upbringing in homes—an issue religious leaders, educators, and cultural institutions frequently cite as a root cause of societal decay. Teachers report increased cases of disrespect, entitlement, and violence among learners, often traced back to poor parenting.
What he says.
“We must go beyond paying school fees. We should be present in our children’s lives, teaching them morals, hope, and responsibility for nation-building,” Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, the Papal Nuncio Emeritus to Belgium.
