The government and development partners have launched a campaign dubbed ‘End Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancies’ in Buyende and Luuka districts.

Under the campaign, girls will discuss with stakeholders and custodians of girls' rights to discuss possible solutions and follow up on implementation of the same for girls to realize their full potential and live in a safe environment.

According to the Ministry of Health, 25% of Ugandan teenagers become pregnant by the age of 19, close to half are married before their 18th birthday, and continue having babies into their mid-40s

Zaituna Asio the Plan International Uganda program unit manager for East, central program area based in Kamuli district speaking at the event.

A 2021 report by the UNFP indicates that Busoga sub region tops in teenage pregnancies with the most affected districts Kamuli with 6,535 cases, Mayuge with 6,205.

The campaign was last week launched in Buyende at the district celebrations to mark the International Day of The Girl Child.

The annual campaign is championed by girls backed by government and Plan International Uganda with support from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

While launching the campaign, the girls in Busoga presented a call to action on ending child early and forced marriages which involved the contributing factors, reason for concern and possible solutions.

Factors fueling the cases

Maureen Namutebi, a girl child advocate said poverty and the greed for bride price are some of the major reasons as to why the cases in the area are increasing, adding that many parents cannot fend for the number of children they have produced.

“When a parent cannot take care of his or her children it exposes them to sexual risks. Children from poor households are more at risk of getting pregnant early and married off compared to those from better off families,” she said.

Namutebi said limited enrolment and retention of girls in school also fuels the cases, adding that many poor families cannot afford keeping girls in school or do not perceive the value of education of girls.

“If a girl is not in school or drops out of school, she becomes vulnerable hence increasing the risk of teenage pregnancies and early marriages,” she added.

Why the stakeholder should mind

Peruth Mwebaze, a child rights defender noted that girls that are married off early are at a greater risk to gender-based violence since they have limited autonomy.

She further noted that both child marriages and teenage pregnancies are associated with shame, stigma and at times can lead to withdrawals from school.

“Girls married off early or get pregnant early are at high risk of contracting infections including HIV, as they are often unable to effectively negotiate safer sex,” she said.

“Pregnant teenagers are more likely to experience serious complications while giving birth like obstetric fistula since their bodies are still immature to handle childbirth.”

Mwebaze said maternal death is about 28% higher for mothers aged 15 to 19 than that of mothers aged 20 to 24.

She said a girl between the age of 15 and 19 years is twice as likely to die during pregnancy or birth as a woman in her 20s and that if she is under 15year, the risk is five times higher.

What needs to be done?

Mwebaze said there is a need to fight gender-based violence through scale up of youth responsive services and investment in youth led innovation solutions.

Cases are settled out of court

Angela Bakibinga, a senior resident prosecutor in the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Buyende district, is faced with a challenge of people who settle cases out of courts leaving victims without getting justice.

The prosecutor noted that there are also people that take cases to court but abandon them there with no clear reasons.

Jenifer Ayesiga the District Police Commander (DPC) Buyende district noted that often when a girl is defiled, parents of both parties go into negotiations and often report cases to police when the negotiations fail.

She however said with the help of the Local Council One Chairperson in getting evidence, they have arrested and prosecuted a number of offenders in the district.

What leaders say

Arnold Kasujja Kintu the deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Buyende said as government they are rolling out different interventions like the Parish Development Model, UWEP and others to eradicate poverty which he said is the leading factor fueling the vices.

Kasujja said the parents should also pick up their responsibilities and appreciate the value of educating their children if the area is to develop more.

Michael Kanaku the district chairperson pointed out that the government provides emancipation of women evidenced by their appointments currently right from the cabinet to the judiciary are women.

“This is good because we shall not see women disappoint their fellow women,” Kanaku said.

Joseph Lomongin the district Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) said with the help of the UPDF under Teresita they identified some areas under WASH that are water-stressed to put up latrines and water sources.

“I also want us to put emphasis on the provision of boarding sections at schools to ensure that girls have a safe environment to study from and decrease the dropouts,” he pointed out.