Teso South MP Geoffrey Omuse has warned residents and administrators against taking advantage of funerals to encourage the outlawed disco matanga.
He said schoolchildren have sex during such parties and get pregnant. Omuse warned that perpetrators will face the full force of the law, noting that the night dances hurt schools performance.
He expressed concern that some chiefs and assistant chiefs issue permits for the outdated rites. He blamed the practice for the rise in teen pregnancies, alcoholism, the number of school dropouts, crime, and HIV infection, among other problems.
The lawmaker spoke on Saturday after commissioning three classrooms at Ochude Primary School. He promised to continue supporting children's education and will not tolerate anything that undermines his efforts. The project cost Sh3.3 million and was financed by the NG-CDF office.
"I urge you, parents, to take care of your children to maintain the good image of Teso after producing the second-best pupil, Flavin Onyango (439) in last year's KCPE."
Omuse cautioned secondary primary and school heads against sending students home for lunch money, arguing that they should deny them lunch instead. He called for compliance with the government policy to admit children who cannot provide all the fee.
Ochude location chief Jane Nekesa appealed to parents to work hand in hand with teachers to monitor the performance of their children. Stubborn parents should be reported to the authorities so they are punished, she said.
Nekesa emphasised the need to install lightning arrestors in schools before the rainy season to avert deaths. Last year, some people died from lightning.
