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Behind the Screen: How Online Predators Trap Your Children

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By Dickson Tumuramye Many of our children today live in a world where a smartphone, tablet, or laptop is always within reach. They are exploring social media, chatting with strangers in online games, scrolling through TikTok, joining WhatsApp groups, and clicking on pop-ups without thinking twice. While this digital exposure can be good for learning and creativity, it has also created a silent door through which online predators access our children. Many young people fall into traps without even realizing they are being targeted, and by the time parents notice, their emotional, psychological, or even physical safety has already been compromised. How Predators Disguise Themselves Online Predators rarely appear as dangerous individuals. They enter children’s online spaces pretending to be friendly, helpful, or “cool.” In Uganda, many of these interactions happen on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, online gaming chat rooms, and even basic WhatsApp groups. A predator may use a you...
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Challenge Your Adult Children to Think Outside the Box

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By Dickson Tumuramye Many parents invest so much in raising children that we often struggle to know when to step back. We sacrifice, guide, protect, and provide. Yet one of the greatest gifts we can give our children, especially when they transition into adulthood, is the gift of independence. Today, many families are grappling with adult sons and daughters who are working, earning, and even married, but still fully dependent on their parents for survival. If we do not challenge them to think outside the box, we risk raising adults who remain emotionally, financially, and mentally dependent long into their thirties and forties. It is difficult, but necessary, to let our adult children struggle a bit, think critically, solve problems, and learn to stand on their own. Stop Spoon-Feeding Your Adult Children Spoon-feeding does not stop at childhood. Many adults remain dependent because their parents never allow them to feel the weight of responsibility. A young man may be earning a...
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Why Children Hide Their True Feelings From Their Parents

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    By Dickson Tumuramye The school holiday is now underway, and some of our candidate children have already returned home, while others will join them soon, whether in primary, high school, or higher institutions of learning. As they grow, children are far more sensitive than we often realize. They think deeply, feel deeply, and observe quietly. Yet many of them rarely speak openly about what is hurting them. They smile, laugh, and play, and they may portray a picture as if everything is moving on well, even when their hearts are troubled. The truth is that many children hide their real feelings, not because they want to deceive their parents, but because they do not know how to communicate their inner world. The silent world of children may not be easily detected until they share their story, you take an interest in making observations, or you are keen on any changes. I share with you some of the reasons why our children, regardless of their age and time, may hide th...
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Who Sets the Rules in Your Home? Rethinking the Entitlement Generation

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By Dickson Tumuramye There was a time when the word of a parent was final. It wasn’t necessarily a  dictatorship, but rather a culture built on respect, boundaries, and structure. When your father said “no,” you understood it was “no.” When your mother gave a directive, you knew questioning it was not an option. It wasn’t fear — it was honour, and perhaps a little dose of holy reverence. The Shift: Children Now Dictate the Rules But today, things seem to have changed drastically. We are living in an era where children are the ones setting the pace for parents. Rules are being questioned, boundaries are being redrawn by toddlers and teens, and sadly, many parents are giving in, sometimes even applauding this new boldness in the name of modern parenting. Emotional Blackmail It is common to hear children say, “You don’t love me,” simply because you denied them a phone, restricted screen time, or asked them to wash dishes. Others say things like, “You’re mistreating me,” or...
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Involve Your Children in Budgeting for School Needs

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By Dickson Tumuramye Do you ever involve your children in the budgeting process for their school, personal, and family requirements? As we prepare to take our children back to school for the third term, many parents are also starting the shopping marathon. The usual routine is that children present their school requirements, sometimes with an extra list of personal wants. The atmosphere in many homes is a mix of pressure, anxiety, and anticipation. Some parents happily shop together with their children, while others prefer to do it on their behalf. This back-to-school period is always a financial balancing act. On one hand, schools legitimately require many items to ensure a smooth learning experience. On the other hand, some children believe their parents have an unlimited supply of money. They present lists that stretch far beyond what is affordable, with little understanding of the financial sacrifices involved. This creates a sense of entitlement that can weigh heavily on p...
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In Her Shadow: A Daughter’s Journey of Love and Care

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2016 will forever be etched in my heart—not because it was easy, but because it was real. After four consecutive years of giving birth (yes, four!), I found myself somewhere between the labor suite and the land of lost identity. My life was a loop of antenatal visits, sleepless nights and diaper duty. I loved being a mother, but let’s just say the motherhood package came with a few surprise add-ons I hadn’t read in the fine print. Then, like a plot twist in a feel-good movie, opportunity knocked. I was among the three students selected for the university exchange program  in Norway as part of our  postgraduate studies. My first instinct? “No way!” The oldest of my three little humans was just four.  But then my husband—bless his brave soul—did the unthinkable. He took a career break to mind the kids so I could rediscover myself and my dreams. Bags packed, I headed to NLA College in Kristiansand, Norway. And oh, what a ride! Thank you NORHED for the opportunity of a life...
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Elections Are Here: Will Your Child Vote, Lead, or Riot?

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  Elections Are Here: Will Your Child Vote, Lead, or Riot? By Dickson Tumuramye As Uganda enters another election cycle, the nation turns its focus to campaign rallies, candidate posters, political debates, and intense competition for leadership positions at various levels. But amid the political noise, another vital question begs for attention: what are we teaching our children about politics and civic engagement? For some parents, politics is seen as a space for adults, or worse, a dangerous game best avoided. But that mindset has consequences. Our children are not just future voters and leaders; they are already watching, listening, and learning from what we say and how we behave during election seasons. If we remain silent, we leave a vacuum that can be filled by misinformation, manipulation, or even violence. And so the question arises: when elections come, will your child vote, lead, or riot? What Does Responsible Political Participation Look Like? Political engag...
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