Moses Nampala
27 July 2008
Tororo — IN a remote village, a drunkard, illiterate and irresponsible father of an eight-year-old girl called Auma returns home from a drinking spree. His family of Auma and her mother live in constant fear.
Sifuna, a grim and humourless man, for years had taken out his frustration of living in poverty on his wife and daughter by shouting at them unnecessarily.
Sifuna represents a section of men among society with a mindset that women are not supposed to stand out but fade away with maidenly modesty into the background.
Tension reigns when he he summons his wife and daughter.
His large inscrutable bloodshot eyes, the craftiness of his thin hard lips, and his heavy brows that relentlessly contract as if he is in pain, cast the magnitude of terror that mother and daughter endure.
Unnerved by the apparent state of fright the two dutifully kneel before him, he rushes head long into the reason for summoning them.
"At eight years, Auma's womb is old enough to hold a baby. I want her married instead of wasting time at school.
Get prepared a potential suitor will be coming here any moment from now," He announces with finality before dismissing the two with a mere wave of hand.
The wife, her voice almost inaudible, attempts to plead against the insane decision, but stops midway, visibly looking nervous, when Sifuna suddenly strikes down his fist crashing upon the table, before roaring.
"Since when did a woman in the home challenge my decision," he quizzes, his fiery big eyes almost jumping out the sockets.
Shortly after, a clumsy old man who would pass for her grandfather, takes Auma for a wife after paying Sifuna sh2000.
It is this episode of drama that breaks the silence from the audience, compelling almost everyone to get charged at the children's presentation to mark the Day of the African Child held in Busia district last month.
The celebration were marked with poetry and singing but undoubtedly the play on child abuse took the day. The occasion held recently at Masafu sub-county ground in Busia was organised by Christian Children's Fund (CCF).
This year's theme for the Day of the African Child was "child participation." A memorandum presented by Christine Nekesa stressed that children were voiceless.
"Child participation is a problem in our families, school and the community. Children are never part of any decision making," Nekesa said. "But we want to tell you that we can also make good decisions, please involve us and you will never regret."
The Christian Children Fund area manager, Lukiya Kibone, underscored why the day of African Child is celebrated.
"We are proud to commemorate this day because it is celebrated in honour of children who were brutally killed by the then apartheid regime in 1976 in Soweto, South Africa.
The death was a sacrifice for the lives of children of Africa because from that time countries started to realise the need to protect children," Kibone noted.
The Christian Children Fund is an international child protection and development organisation, operating in Africa, Asia Europe and America.
In Uganda the organisation was started in 1980.
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