By Our Reporter
The Government through the Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance is being asked to start debating the proposed alcohol control bill currently in parliament that would lead to effective legislation meant to regulate the use of alcohol among young girls.
The appeal has been made by the Uganda Girl Guides Association (UGGA) which is currently working on a project on alcohol prevention amongst the youth aimed at having an alcohol-free society.
According to the Ministry of Health, there is a lot of alcohol in Uganda with production in the formal sector breweries estimated at around 37% while domestically produced spirits account for about 63%, which is largely unregulated and unrecorded.
According to Prudence Muhire the Coordinator for the Alcohol Prevention Project at UGGA, many girls have been addicted to alcohol as a result of being exposed to alcohol in their parental homes something she puts on the recklessness of the parents.
UGGA says that the number of girls whose future has since been smashed by Alcohol has shot higher thus the need for urgent intervention.
Meanwhile, UGGA revealed all the above during a meeting held at Fairway Hotel today, ahead of the Association's centenary celebrations that will be held on 16th December 2022.
Part of the activities to celebrate Girl Guides' achievements in the last 100yrs is to scale up mentorship and training activities for young girls, and set up of a new camping site on a 20-acre piece of land donated by His Royal Highness the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.
Achievements At 100yrs
According to UGGA Chief Commissioner Ms Suzan Namalome, the Association has achieved a lot and as of today, it has offices in every region with a membership of over 400,000 girls.
Namalome said during these celebrations, they plan to boost girl empowerment programs right from the grassroots [in the schools]. ''We appeal to all parents, to trust us with their children, our role is to transform them into virtuous women and equip them with skills that will see them succeed in this world,'' noted Namalome.
On her part, Ms Juliana Bezuidenhout who is yet to make 60 years in UGGA, commended development partners for the funding that has seen the Association running for 100yrs.
''We couldn't make it for all these years without our beloved government that supports our campaigns. We thank His Excellence Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and mama Janet and the entire government for the love of girl child. But on a special note, we thank our partners like WAGGGS, among others who have funded us for the last 100years. You have really made us proud,'' said Bezuidenhout.
On there other hand, Dr Eunice Kateshumbwa a retired Kyambogo University lecturer dubbed Chairman of the planning committee for the centenary celebrations, appealed to the government for more support especially financially such that they can develop the 20 acres given to them by Kabaka in Butambala.
''My colleagues have already thanked Government and other partners for standing with us financially but i humbly appeal to them to support us more, we have a huge demand for developing that land given to us by Kabaka among other mega projects,'' said Ms Kateshumbwa.
So, What's UGGA?
According to Bezuidenhout, the oldest member of the Association, UGGA is a Voluntary Organization that is dedicated to the growth and development of girls and women.
''The Girl Guides Association is a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS),'' she says adding, ''WAGGGS is the largest voluntary organization dedicated to girls and young women in the world, supporting over 10.2 million individual girls and young women across 152 countries to realize their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.''
Meanwhile, we also learnt that with a membership of 426,860 girls, UGGA is one of the largest all-female organizations in both Africa and Uganda that provides non-formal education programs and training through the core and fundamental principles of guiding.
Uganda Girl Guides Association was registered by the Act of Parliament (The Royal Charter Act) 147 volume 5 on 23rd March 1922. Guiding in Uganda started in the present-day Kabarole District and is active in over 105 districts of Uganda.