Teenage pregnancies driving over 50% of Rwenzori school dropouts

RWENZORI - The Rwenzori region is experiencing high school dropout rates, especially at the primary level, with some areas like Kitagwenda in Toro reporting an over 50% increase in teenage pregnancies as a major cause, New Vision Online has heard.

According to gender ministry Youth and Children’s Affairs Assistant Commissioner Mondo Kyateka, the 50 per cent increase is significantly contributing to the national rural girl-child dropout rate of approximately 28 per cent. 

Kyateka says even though over 1.7 million babies are born every year, about 800,000 pupils sat for the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations and that it is because many learners drop out before completing the primary school cycle.

He adds that research indicates that child marriages and early pregnancies are the biggest contributors to the state of affairs.

"In this cause, as a ministry, we are going to work hand in hand with leaders and communities to fight child marriages and early pregnancies, respectively, to curb school dropouts," Kyateka adds.    

Sandra Tukwasibwe, the programmes manager at Joy for Children (JFCU), an organisation that protects and promotes the rights of children, says they are working with communities and national stakeholders to address all forms of violence against children.

Sandra Tukwasibwe, the programs manager at Joy for Children (JFCU). (Credit: Jovita Mirembe)

Tukwasibwe adds that their Kasese district research findings indicate that parental negligence is rampant, as several send their girl children to bars in the night to buy alcohol, where they find men who seduce them into having sex, hence getting pregnant at an early age.

She said they are working closely with Parliament and the parliamentary forum for children to support efforts to pass a stringent law against defilers. 

Kasese Municipality's Nyamwamba division community development officer Abud Magezi, who said they are working with various NGOs to fight child marriages, urged the Government to allocate more funds to curbing child marriages in the area and sensitising parents. 

Green Home Organisation for Women Development programmes co-ordinator, Prize Marion Anzire, said the organisation’s main aim is to strengthen the capacities of women and girls to participate in decision-making.

She added that most of the communities where the organisation operates are fishers, farmers and pastoralists who ‘‘sell’’ off their girls.    

These gender ministry-organised discussions were on February 6, 2026, during an engagement with cultural leaders, district community leaders, and child rights activists in Kasese district.

The discussions were aimed at forging a way forward to end child marriages and teenage pregnancies.