Editor
The Catholic Church has been urged to amplify its advocacy against drug abuse and abortion among school-going children.
A recent study conducted in schools in Kampala and Wakiso revealed alarming rates of drug and substance abuse, with alcohol and cannabis being the most commonly used substances, ranging from 60 to 71% among students.
Dr. David Kalema, the director of Hope and Beyond Rehabilitation Center, emphasized this during his address to students from various Catholic-founded schools in the Kampala Archdiocese. He spoke at the 2024 annual convention of the Uganda Martyrs Pro-life Apostolate (UMPA), held at St. Balikudembe Secondary School in Mitala Maria, Mpigi District, under the theme “Engage in the Church’s mission of safeguarding life: Reject drugs.”
Kalema emphasized that the Church’s influential voice can significantly impact the nation, particularly in addressing the issues of drug abuse and abortion among the youth. He stressed that such action could save lives and preserve the aspirations of young individuals who fall victim to drugs and abortion.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sandra Nabachwa, the Director of UMPA, called upon parents to prioritize parenting despite their busy schedules, emphasizing its critical role in securing the future of their children.
UMPA, established in April 2008 by the late Archbishop Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga in the Archdiocese of Kampala, is an organization dedicated to promoting and defending human life from conception to natural death.
