Rwenzururu in drive to end teenage pregnancies in kingdom

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Ranked third nationally for this crisis, Kasese district has long struggled with alarmingly high rates of teenage pregnancies, a challenge that has endlessly forced young girls to drop out of school, enter early marriages, and become single mothers.

To combat this, Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu (OBR) has partnered with organisations, including the Nyabuhole Development Foundation and Tul Audio, to organise the "Kyakere" Musical Carnival. This event, featuring locally composed music with targeted anti-teenage pregnancy messaging, aims to sensitise communities across the kingdom.

Speaking at the Rwenzori International Hotel in Kasese municipality on August 31, 2025, the foundation board of directors chairperson, Sira Baluku (representing OBR Queen Agnes Ithungu Asiimawe), said over 100 girls were found pregnant in Munkunyu sub-county last month alone.

Several partners and carnival organisers at the Rwenzori International Hotel. (Photo by Samuel Amanyire)

She emphasised that figures of teenage pregnancies are significantly underreported due to families’ reluctance to disclose cases, noting, "Even in other sub-counties, the situation is this severe or worse."

Baluku stressed that teenage pregnancies and early marriages leave children vulnerable, urging religious and political leaders to leverage their platforms to eradicate this vice. "Government must also strengthen laws on this issue while we continue urging families to keep children in school," she added.

Human rights defender Jolly Mbambu called on youth to harness social media to amplify campaigns protecting girls’ right to education. She condemned "the ever-growing acts of incest by heartless relatives causing mayhem within families," highlighting how such abuse derails girls’ futures.

Rwenzori East Police region spokesperson Nelson Tumushime urged communities to report domestic violence to enable justice.

He disclosed that the Police recorded at least 90 teenage pregnancy cases between January and June 2024.

The Kyakere Musical Carnival, which is scheduled for October 18 at Trans Africa Inn Gardens in Kasese Town, will feature regional artists and thousands of attendees in a unified push to end teenage pregnancies across the Rwenzori region.