By Ahumuza Dornam
For years, the slogan “Educate the girl child” has been at the centre of development campaigns. Across Uganda and beyond, the world has poured resources into lifting the girl child — keeping her in school, protecting her from early marriage, and giving her a chance at a brighter future. These efforts are noble, long overdue, and continue to change lives. But a new debate is taking shape: in empowering the girl, have we neglected the boy?
There is no doubt that girls have historically faced serious disadvantages. Cultural practices, poverty, and gender bias kept many of them out of classrooms. Governments and NGOs rightly intervened with scholarships, policies, and community programs. Today, more girls are in school than ever before, and conversations about gender equality are stronger than at any time in history.
Meanwhile, the boy child often stands in the background. Increasingly, boys are dropping out of school to engage in child labor, boda boda riding, and street vending. Others fall into drug abuse, crime, or idleness. Unlike girls, boys rarely benefit from targeted mentorship or support programs. In many families, the assumption remains that “boys will manage.”
Mental health is another quiet crisis. Boys are told to be “tough” and hide their emotions. As a result, depression, stress, and pressure go unnoticed until it is too late.
Empowering the girl child should never mean neglecting the boy child. Both face unique struggles that deserve attention. A neglected boy today can easily become a frustrated man tomorrow — with consequences that affect families and society at large.
What is needed is balance. Campaigns should encourage boys to stay in school, avoid drugs, and embrace responsibility, while continuing to support girls against the barriers they face. Parents, teachers, and policymakers must ensure that both genders are equally guided and empowered.
At the end of the day, the future of our nation does not lie in girls alone, nor in boys alone. It lies in raising both to be educated, responsible, and capable leaders.