Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has called for a renewed national commitment to building stable, supportive, and prayer-anchored homes, describing the family unit as the vital foundation for raising responsible citizens and securing a prosperous nation.
The Deputy Speaker made these remarks while addressing delegates at the 13th Women Forum of the National Prayer Breakfast, held at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala. The high-profile event convened women Members of Parliament, private sector leaders—including Nnaabagereka Sylvia Nagginda—and visiting international dignitaries.
Delivering his keynote message, Tayebwa warned that the systemic breakdown of family structures carries severe consequences for children, local communities, and the country at large. He stressed that a child’s future is heavily dictated by their domestic upbringing, advocating for peaceful environments where both parents and children can thrive.
“I do believe that in whatever we are doing, the institution of the family is the important institution that will shine,” Tayebwa stated, contrasting healthy homes with dysfunctional environments. “If you have a broken family full of drunkards, then the children are not going to grow in the right way.”
Addressing gender roles and domestic governance, the Deputy Speaker urged both men and women to jointly shoulder the responsibility of maintaining peaceful households. He strongly condemned domestic violence in all its forms, emphasizing that accountability must be absolute, regardless of the victim’s gender.
“The standard should be the same,” Tayebwa declared, calling for uniform behavioral expectations across society.
The Deputy Speaker further linked strong family units to personal accountability, challenging Ugandans to practice self-reflection and integrity before demanding transparency from others.
“Integrity is not for other people. Integrity is for you. You start with yourself,” he remarked.
In his closing remarks, Tayebwa emphasized that spiritual devotion must translate into physical productivity to achieve meaningful nation-building. He lauded women for their immense contributions as structural and spiritual pillars of the community, calling for greater societal appreciation of their heavy responsibilities.
“A country is built by people who can pray that prayer and then go and work,” Tayebwa concluded.
