Religious leaders accused of frustrating teen mothers’ education

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Across Uganda and much of East Africa, pregnant and parenting teenagers are routinely denied access to education.

Despite a 2020 government guideline allowing adolescent mothers to resume school after maternity leave, many faith-based institutions, particularly Muslim and Christian schools, continue to turn them away or subject them to stigma, according to reports.

“When I discovered I was pregnant, I ran away from home. When I finally returned, I faced a new kind of rejection. No school would accept me. Every Muslim school I approached turned me down, and the religious leaders I encountered treated me as if I were trash,” Sophie Nawenja.

Nawenja, was among the few girls that shared their experience trying to get back into the school system while pregnant.

“There is only one school that gave me a chance, and I urge all schools to pick a leaf, help us bid and support girls who want to continue to study. I finished senior six with 12 points, and I wouldn’t be here if that school sent me away too,” Nawenja added.

She narrated her ordeal during a dialogue by the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER), which took place at Four Points hotel on June 18, 2025.

The dialogue focused on the prevention and management of teenage pregnancies in Ugandan school settings.

At the event, representatives of teenage mothers and officials from the Ministry of Education, called on religious leaders to take a leading role in supporting their return to school.

Julius Musasizi Kizito, the Buikwe District Education Officer, asked the religious leaders to stop sidelining teenage pregnancy and instead actively support young mothers in completing their education.

“Religious leaders do not pretend that things are not happening. Things are real, and you need to help us understand how to handle this issue in schools,” Musasizi stated.

Musasizi revealed that his office received reports about religious leaders who are reluctant to embrace change, creating an environment steeped in stigma that discourages pregnant girls from returning to school.

He noted that societal attitudes often single teenage mothers out, and both schools and communities are resistant to their reintegration.

‘Stop expelling pregnant girls’

According to statistics, 22% of girls in Uganda drop out of school due to pregnancy, and only 8% return after giving birth. Labila Sumayah Musoke, programs officer-Right to Health at ISER, emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to address the issue.

“As an institution advocating for equity and inclusiveness, we believe that every girl deserves access to education and economic opportunities,” Musoke said.

Sarah Opendi, the Tororo District Woman MP, echoed Musoke’s concerns and urged for greater compassion toward pregnant learners.

Sarah Opendi, Tororo District Woman MP and chairperson UWOPA.

“Expelling pregnant girls from school is unfair, especially when many are victims of circumstance,” Opendi emphasised, adding that schools, particularly day schools, should welcome girls in early-stage pregnancy so they can continue their studies.

She also highlighted the importance of prevention, noting a troubling uptick in teenage pregnancies, from 24% to 25%, underscoring the need for increased government investment in tackling the issue.

Drivers of teenage pregnancy

Another teenage mother (names withheld) shared her experience of her father becoming a perpetrator and her decision to get a boyfriend to overcome the trauma, which led to her pregnancy.

“My mother works the night shift, and it was always just me and my dad at home. One night, my father became a perpetrator instead of a protector. Once I opened up to my mom, she told me never to utter it to anyone. After all this, I decided to get a boyfriend when I joined senior four. I couldn’t bear the thought of my dad taking my virginity, and so I got a boyfriend to substitute. Not so long after that, I got pregnant,” said the victim.

Another victim narrated that one of the male teachers at her previous school threatened to fail her if she spoke of their relationship. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was six months pregnant and forced to have an abortion by her mother, causing her trauma.