Stop teaching girls to pull – Minister Mutuuzo challenges “valueless and outdated” traditional norms

The Minister of State for Gender and Culture, Hon. Peace Mutuuzo, has advised Ugandans to drop cultures and norms that do not add much value to children.

In a brief encounter with the media, Hon. Mutuuzo is heard pointing out how traditional cultures like visiting the bush and pulling do not really add value to young children and need to be erased from their mindset.

“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,” Hon. Peace Mutuuzo said.

She further noted that the world is now a multi-cultural place where some of these norms and traditions will not matter if these children get married to foreigners.

She hence advises parents to instead focus on instilling values that change the mindset of their children to chase financial goals, and then they can later be able to make their own choices later in life.

Secondly, 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.

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?”

25 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.