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Alur King Philip Olarker Rauni III has condemned parents who consider their daughters as a source of wealth.

He has urged parents to stop the habit and said they should consider educating the girls as a long-term investment for the family.

The king made the call on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, during an engagement with the Rural Initiative for Community Empowerment (RICE) West Nile, Palm Corps, and Space.

These are organisations undertaking a consortium project Funded by the European Union to return school dropout girls to school.

In 2021, the King made a proclamation to ensure the girl child is protected and the rights of women and children are respected.

This was after the district registered over 9,000 teenage pregnancies between 2020 and 2021.

Pax Sakari, the executive director RICE West Nile, challenged the beneficiaries of the project to ensure they own the project and become change agents in the communities.

Elizabeth Ongom, the European Union delegation officer in charge of civil society and youth, was impressed by the areas of intervention for the girls.

Liberty Afoyorwoth, 20, a resident of Abanga sub-county, said she lived with her mother while in school, but unfortunately, both parents passed on.

As a result, she dropped out of school due to lack of school fees and examination fees.

The European Union, through RICE West Nile and partners, has received a grant of shillings 2.2 billion to fight teenage pregnancy in the districts of Zombo and Madi Okollo till 2025.