RDC orders ban of Disco halls to curtail teenage pregnancies

By Geofrey Achora Jr

PAKWACH: The office of the resident district commissioner Pakwach has directed all the sub-county chairpersons with immediate effect to stop disco operations in their respective jurisdictions as a measure to regulate unwanted and teenage pregnancies. #WhisperEyeNews

In the letter issued, the RDC also noted the order applies to disco halls that are situated too close to health centers and homes emitting noise pollution that subsequently inconveniences the peace of the community, especially at night.

The tough-speaking Paul Eseru warned that failure to adhere to this directive tantamount to heavy penalties

“for those disco operators who try to defy this humble appeal order from now, I can assure you your system will be picked and subsequently charged with competent,” Eseru said.

Speaking to the press, Eseru adds that some reported cases of minors impregnated and school drops in the district will be curtailed once the directive is affected. 

His appeal comes at Pakwach district local government passed education ordinances that seek to protect and keep learners in school protecting their educational rights

In Alwi Sub County with a reported high number of mushrooming disco halls operating mainly in makeshifts, Odia Robert the sub-county chairperson revealed that the intention resonates with the earlier moved ordinances by the council.

Odia remarked that the sub-county has suspended issuing of disco licenses to curtail disco-associated harmful vices

“We have directed as councils technocrats not to permit any revenue collector by the name parish chief to collect revenue from these operators and we are going to follow it to the dot” Odia explained

In the Pakwach town council, the leaders and a section of the community members received the directive with mixed sentiments.

Oketiwengu Mike a resident of Puyoo village in Pakwach town council said if implemented the decision will have a dire impact on the livelihood of infant operators who predominantly depend on it as a source of revenue and employment

He adds: “This disco issue needs to be regulated assure it’s going to affect people in their income people are serving on these operators if they can’t elevate the standard it’s going to hit them and importantly we should protect the future the generation”

As a measure, all the duly licensed disco operators must comply with directives such as operating in soundproof, precise mechanisms of mitigating minors from accessing the disco halls, and specified times of operation.

Pakwach district just like most parts of the region is grappling with unregulated night disco dances due to weak ordnances and conflict of interests.