By Spy Uganda
In a letter addressed to the First Lady and Minister for Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni, Youth Minister Balaam Barugahara has requested the development of guidelines to regulate entertainment events in schools. The move comes after concerns were raised by the Pan African Pyramid, an organization focused on mentoring youth and promoting Pan Africanism.
The organization expressed alarm over the indecent dressing and inappropriate behavior displayed during performances by entertainers and artists in schools. In his letter, Minister Barugahara highlighted that the Pan African Pyramid team led by Andrew Irumba, the Founding Speaker and Chairman of the organization had petitioned the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, seeking measures to protect students from harmful content.
“I write to introduce the Pan African Pyramid, whose goal is to mentor youth while instilling the spirit and values of Pan Africanism,” Minister Barugahara forwarded the request to the Ministry of Education and Sports dubbed first lady Janet Kataha Museveni.
In their January petition to Minister Balaam, Pan-African Pyramid, speaker Andrew Irumba noted; “We have observed that schools are inviting artists who perform in indecent attire and deliver suggestive lyrics and dances that contradict the values we, as a nation, strive to uphold.”
The petition also addressed the financial burden on parents, as schools often require payments for these events, further creating tension between families and institutions. In addition, the group argued that these events detract from the primary academic focus of schools, leading students away from their educational goals.
The Pan-African Pyramid’s call to action includes several key demands:
- Collaboration between government bodies, including the Ministry of Education and the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity, to regulate musical concerts in schools.
- Clear guidelines for school events to ensure they align with cultural and moral standards.
- Promotion of values-based education that fosters discipline, respect, and integrity.
- Protection of parents from financial exploitation related to school events.
