Actress and playwright Mariam Ndagire has urged fathers to take a more active role in raising their children, warning that parental absence can have lasting consequences.
Speaking to local media, Ndagire opened up about her own experience growing up with an absent father, saying it was a painful experience that shaped her perspective on fatherhood.
“I am a product of an absent father, which was very painful. That child you are neglecting is your own blood and your responsibility. Please be present in their lives because you don’t know what they will turn into,” she said.
Ndagire said fathers may eventually regret being absent, regardless of how their children turn out.
“When they become successful and avoid you, it hurts. But even if they don’t turn out as successful, it’s your responsibility as a parent to be present in their lives,” she added.
She also spoke about the different roles parents can play as children grow, particularly when it comes to raising boys.
According to Ndagire, mothers are particularly important during the early years, while fathers should become more involved as boys grow older and begin facing different challenges.
“Boys need their mothers most before they turn 14 years old, but after 14, they need their fathers around to help them navigate life’s challenges and become more responsible,” she said.
Ndagire urged fathers not to leave the responsibility of raising children entirely to women, warning that doing so could have consequences for future generations.
“Stop leaving those duties to the women. Do better before we create a very irresponsible, careless, and disrespectful generation,” she added.