We live in the era of genetic reckoning, where you can easily spit into a vial or swab your cheek to learn about your genetic relatives and ancestral past. Most of the time, the outcomes are only interesting.
According to police statistics, the number of men seeking DNA paternity tests for their children in Uganda has surged by 70 per cent. DNA testing technologies are beginning to have a major impact on Ugandan families.
Why are men secretly carrying out DNA tests on their presumed biological children? What does this mean for the family as an institution? And how can we approach this situation humanely?
One reason why men opt to carry out the test is to avoid the responsibility of fathering children. The cost of living has soared beyond imaginations. Raising and grooming children can be expensive. It involves a lot of financial sacrifices.
Secondly, the breakdown of the family institution is another issue. The family, which was the basic unit of society, is falling apart. Finally, the media has done more harm than good in this scenario. There are a number of studies that show the relationship between the social media, especially Facebook, and marital infidelity.
Apparently, it’s easier to conceal an adulterous relationship on Facebook. How do we deal with this DNA testing monster? The sacredness of the family as the fundamental unit of society is threatened when DNA evidence is used as a weapon to keep children out of a particular family. A broad view of family dynamics fosters social solidarity, peace, and stability.
Second, as long as our disputes are still decided in a foreign language, based on concepts of “family law” and “private property” drawn from a foreign jurisprudence, we still have a problem.
Finally, there should be accredited laboratories with certified genetic counselors that are authorized to do such DNA tests. Some of the DNA kits may be contaminated, which could produce false results.
Thus, it’s critical to get DNA testing done at a trustworthy testing institution that is accredited with a high level of accuracy and data privacy. Otherwise, we risk sitting on a ticking time bomb!
Ivan Muguongeyo,
Kampala.
We should be warned of USA gun violence
In yet another week of senseless gun violence orchestrated by domestic terrorists, more than two dozen people were killed across the United States of America at the start of July 2023.
Our thoughts and prayers should be with the families of the victims and the survivors. There seem to be no end in sight for this uniquely American phenomenon. According to the respected Pew Research Center, 48,830 people were killed in gun
violence in the USA in 2021 alone.
We are in the middle of 2023 and already 13,959 are dead from this domestic violence. What is baffling is that African governments, including Uganda, never issue terror threat alerts for their citizens traveling to or living in America, and yet danger lurks everywhere in America.
The American embassy itself should start issuing these domestic terror alerts to warn foreigners coming to America about this clear and present danger.
Not doing so would mean that American government believes that the lives of citizens of other parts of the world do not matter. British High Commission, some of your citizens were injured in the recent domestic terror shootings in America. Can we get some sort of a travel advisory, please?
Hilda Mukiibi,
hildamukiibi@hotmail.com
Are children safe online?
On Friday June, 2023, the world celebrated the International Day of the African Child. The African continent was dubbed the “children’s continent” by the World Economic Forum because it has the world’s fastest-growing youth population with an average age of 19.
It has also been projected that two out of every five children born in 2050 and beyond will be Africans. This further affirms Africa’s position as the world’s youngest continent.
Africans under the age of 30 account for 70 per cent of the entire population on the continent. This rapid population growth, which is expected to double the numbers by 2050 presents both opportunities and challenges for the present and future leaders of Africa.
In order for Africa to address challenges that arise from rapid population growth and also attain middle-income status
by mid-century, African leaders must strategically plan and invest in critical areas of education, information and communication technology as well as agriculture and climate change.
These three strategic areas are underpinned by the World Bank’s six strategic themes, African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nation’s sustainable development goals as pivotal enablers of Africa’s social and economic transformation.
According to the Internet Society, Africa’s internet penetration stood at 43 per cent as of June 2022, which is far below the global average of 68 per cent. However, with increased ICT infrastructure investment from China and the World Bank, Africa’s internet penetration is set to improve and the unit cost of bandwidth to further drop.
Also, Chinese mobile phone manufacturers have established factories on the continent which have reduced the cost of mobile phones and laptops thus making them affordable for more Africans.
The potential of digital literacy, ICTs and the internet to enable sectors of education, manufacturing, agriculture and youth employment, amongst others, is enormous. However, the internet, which is believed to be the biggest invention of the 20th century, also has the potential to negatively impact an entire generation of children.
Africa has the highest youth population and the least measures of online safety for its youth and children. As a result, the African child is highly vulnerable to external online violence in the form of online sexual harassment, child pornography, cyber bullying, stalking and hate speech, which can adversely affect a child’s psychological and mental well- being.
It is, therefore, imperative that African governments prioritize the establishment and enforcement of online safety laws to safeguard future generations.
Samuel Mugabi,
Kampala.