Families in Pader face rising challenges as community, police step up to protect children

2 January 2026, 12:22

By Ekel Bonny Daniel

Families in Pader District are grappling with rising economic pressures, cultural erosion, and youth indiscipline, prompting community leaders, cultural authorities, and police to step in to protect children and guide parents.

Rising school fees, high living costs, and increasing responsibilities have left households struggling to provide both material support and emotional guidance.

Parents and guardians are also confronted with challenges from technology and social media, which often influence children away from family values.

Edward Tony Ojede, a resident of Paiula Sub-county, explained how life has changed for families in Pader in recent years.

He described the rising costs of living, from education to healthcare, and emphasized how families are now required to work together to meet household demands.

For his family, he says, it is no longer enough for one parent to carry the burden alone.

Edward narrates how his wife contributes through small-scale activities, and how even their children participate in chores and tasks suitable for their age.

This shared approach, he notes, not only ensures survival but also teaches responsibility and cooperation.

He also highlighted the challenge of raising children in the digital age, where social media and online content often conflict with family values, requiring parents to be vigilant in guiding behavior and decision-making.

Waniiye Glory, a single mother and businesswoman, described the transformation her life underwent after starting a small business selling sour rice porridge and mandazi.

Previously dependent on relatives, she could barely provide meals for her children, which motivated her to find sustainable income.

Through careful planning and disciplined budgeting, Waniiye now covers her children’s meals, school fees, and materials, while still saving for the future.

She explained the difficult decision to enroll her children in boarding school to balance work and parenting effectively, trusting the school environment while still maintaining strong parental oversight through visits and weekly financial support.

Waniiye also reflected on the emotional challenges of raising children without a father figure, emphasizing mentorship and patience as essential for guiding her children, especially her son, toward becoming responsible adults.

Abalo Josephine, a mother from Pader Town Council, emphasized that modern parenting requires more deliberate planning and time management than in the past.

She described how she prioritizes her family and faith above work, ensuring that her children receive guidance, life skills, and a sense of identity.

Josephine narrates how she sets aside specific times for discussions with her children, teaching them respect, discipline, and cultural values such as knowing their lineage and family history.

She stressed that understanding family roots and identity is crucial to preventing future conflicts over land, inheritance, or social standing.

Josephine also highlighted the importance of involving children in decisions, especially regarding education, to promote transparency and mutual understanding.

Kilama Fearless Wodacholi, Urban Council III Chairperson Pader Town Council, expressed concern about the weakening of Acholi traditions, which previously ensured that every child was considered the responsibility of the community.

He highlighted how poverty and alcohol abuse have reduced parental involvement, leaving children unsupervised and vulnerable.

Kilama also pointed out the transformation in marriage practices, where young couples no longer live with the mother of the husband for mentor-ship, leading to gaps in preparation for family life.

He urged parents to actively monitor their children’s whereabouts, maintain family routines, and strengthen bonds through simple acts such as morning greetings and daily check-ins, which historically reinforced family cohesion.

Rwot Kasimiro Ongom, Cultural Leader of P’Otongo Chiefdom, shared his concerns about the loss of cultural knowledge among children.

He observed that even children who speak the Acholi language often mix it with English, signaling a detachment from traditional norms.

Ongom stressed that elders and leaders must set examples for the younger generation, as children only learn cultural values when they see them practiced in everyday life.

To address this, his chiefdom is establishing a cultural centre where children will learn traditional dances, courtship rituals, cooking methods, and appropriate behavior for adulthood.

Ongom emphasized that nurturing children with cultural knowledge ensures they grow into responsible adults capable of maintaining family structures and community cohesion.

The Pader District Police have stepped up operations to address youth indiscipline.

District Police Commander SP Jackson Bogere warned that minors roaming streets, lodges, or bars after 9:00 p.m. would be detained, and establishments allowing underage entry could face closure.

SP Bogere emphasized that children left unsupervised are highly vulnerable, citing the district’s high HIV/AIDS prevalence and defilement cases.

The police operations over the holiday period reflect a broader effort to enforce laws, protect children, and encourage parents to actively supervise their children, especially during festive periods.

Officer-in-Charge Criminal Investigation Department (OCCID) Officer Kyakuhire Deborah highlighted the growing problem of children engaging in risky and illegal behaviors when left unsupervised.

She explained that many children respond defiantly to guidance, illustrating a broader breakdown in discipline.

Deborah stressed that parents must actively mentor their children, emphasizing that education, moral guidance, and daily supervision are essential tools for raising responsible youth.

SP Agai Dorine, head of the Child and Family Protection Unit (CFPU), underscored the dangers of neglect and improper guardianship, recounting instances where unsupervised children suffered abuse.

She explained that parental disputes or absence often leave children vulnerable to serious harm and warned that children released from police custody would require strict parental oversight to prevent recurrence.

Local leaders expressed strong support for police operations aimed at curbing youth indiscipline.

LC1 Chairperson Muze Jakeyo Taka-Taka of Paipir Kalalo commended the police for safeguarding children and emphasized the need for community-led mentorship programs that educate parents on responsible parenting.

LCIII Chairperson Amone Bosco of Ogom Sub-county noted that many children defy parental guidance, and urged parents to reinforce discipline at home while cooperating with police and community programs.

Together, these leaders emphasized that restoring family order requires both supervision and active engagement from parents, elders, and community authorities.

Senior Probation Officer Okech David noted that poor communication between parents, negative masculinity, and lack of shared family vision significantly contributes to family instability.

He explained that disagreements over finances, household responsibilities, and child guidance often escalate into neglect or separation, leaving children vulnerable.

David highlighted the importance of counseling, dialogue, and community interventions to strengthen family bonds adding that His office handles four to five family-related cases every week, including domestic violence, abandonment, and failure to provide.

Authorities and community leaders in Pader District are planning ongoing mentorship programs, cultural revival initiatives, and policing efforts to reinforce parental responsibility and protect children from unsafe environments.

They emphasize that nurturing children through family cohesion, cultural identity, and moral guidance is essential to producing responsible, resilient future citizens.

SP Jackson Bogere summed up the community’s challenge: “The children we protect today are the future leaders of Pader. Parents, local leaders, and the community must work together to guide them, or we risk losing a generation.”