Pader families face challenges as community and police protect children

2 January 2026, 12:22

By Ekel Bonny Daniel

Families in Pader District are facing rising economic pressures, cultural erosion, and challenges with 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 traditional family values.

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

He highlighted the rising costs of living, from education to healthcare, and emphasised how families now need to work together to meet household demands.

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

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

He notes that this shared approach not only ensures survival but also teaches responsibility and cooperation.

He also highlighted the challenges 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 behaviour and decision-making.

Waniiye Glory, a single mother and businesswoman, described how her life transformed 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 seek a sustainable source of income.

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

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

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

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

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

Josephine described how she sets aside dedicated times to talk with her children, teaching them respect, discipline, and cultural values, including an understanding of their lineage and family history.

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

Josephine also highlighted the importance of involving children in decision-making, particularly regarding their education, to promote transparency and mutual understanding.

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

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

Kilama also pointed out changes in marriage practices, where young couples no longer live with the husband’s mother for mentorship, creating 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, expressed concern over the loss of cultural knowledge among children.

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

Ongom emphasised that elders and leaders must set examples for the younger generation, as children learn cultural values most effectively when they are demonstrated in daily life.

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

Ongom emphasised that nurturing children with cultural knowledge helps them grow into responsible adults capable of maintaining family structures and community cohesion.

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

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

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

The police operations over the holiday period form part of a broader effort to enforce laws, protect children, and encourage parents to actively supervise their children, particularly during festive seasons.

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

She explained that many children respond defiantly to guidance, reflecting a wider breakdown in discipline.

Deborah stressed that parents must actively mentor their children, emphasising 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), highlighted the dangers of neglect and inadequate guardianship, citing 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 protecting children and emphasised the need for community-led mentorship programmes to educate parents on responsible parenting.

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

Collectively, these leaders emphasised 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 a lack of a shared family vision significantly contribute 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 counselling, dialogue, and community interventions to strengthen family bonds, adding that his office handles four to five family-related cases each week, including domestic violence, abandonment, and failure to provide.

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

They emphasise that nurturing children through family cohesion, cultural identity, and moral guidance is essential for raising responsible and resilient future citizens.

SP Jackson Bogere summarised 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.”