Basoga warned against marrying off underage girls

Parents in Iganga district, Busoga sub-region have been warned against marrying off their underage daughters instead of sending them to school.

Action will be taken against anyone found doing so, warned Busoga Kingdom Prime Minister Joseph Muvawala.

He was speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of Patrict Kayemba, the Iganga district LC 5 chairman at Iganga district headquarters.

 "The Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Wilberforce Nadiope Gabula IV is not happy that parents in Iganga are well-known for marrying off their young daughters to elderly men in order to get wealth and this is known all over Busoga and Uganda at large."

Patrick Kayemba swearing in as the LC 5 chairperson of Iganga district. (Credit: Donald Kiirya)

Muvawala said marrying off underage daughters is a taboo in Busoga clans and culture, adding that Iganga has the highest number of young mothers who give birth at 15 years.

"We want to sound a warning to parents still keeping their young girls at home and denying them their right to education. Such parents will face the full force of the law."

Such cases are common in the rural communities and often go unabated due to lack of information to the relevant authorities.

Muvawala asked local administrators to look out for such parents and arrest them.

"Let us marry off these girls when they are ready enough to look after themselves and take care of a man. It's through education that they can be self-reliant even in marriages. That's what we call development," he said.

The kingdom's premier said Obwa Kyabazinga bwa Busoga will coordinate with district heads to fight the vice as well as domestic violence in homes.

From left, Premier Muvawala chatting with Kigulu Chief Prince Patrick Izimba Gologolo and Milton Muwuma, former Kigulu South MP. (Credit: Donald Kiirya) 

Also, Muvawala:

• urged parents to always provide food to their school-going children

• requested all Basoga in Kampala and those in districts outside Busoga to come back to their motherland Busoga and construct factories and their homes

• defended the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga's recent visit to Nhendha cultural site, saying everyone his/her way of worshiping God

• warned Iganga district councilors against airing their differences on radio stations but instead settle their differences in a district councils

• told the Basoga not to sell properties belonging to Busoga Kingdom like land and houses and also warned people against buying kingdom property.

• said Busoga Kingdom is going to secure land titles for all land on which various sub-counties and parish headquarters are seated on.

• implored the newly sworn in LC 5 chairperson of Iganga district to appoint a genuine District Service Commission that will not sell jobs to locals.

Meanwhile, Patrick Kayemba, the Iganga district LC 5 chairperson pledged to return back property that belongs to Busoga Kingdom. He also promised to work with his council to promote development in Iganga district and Busoga at large.