Two million girls forced into early marriage annually

By Vivian Agaba                

Two million girls aged between 12-16 years are said to be forced into early marriages in Uganda annually putting the percentage at 46%.

Quoting a 2012 report by the African Human Social Development, Benon Katumwa, National Director, Empower A Child, said that in Uganda alone, studies show almost two million minors are forced or lured into early marriages on an annual basis.

According to the African Committee of experts on the rights and welfare of the child, the continent has the second highest rates of child marriages in the world after South Asia with two out five (41%) girls marrying before 18 years.

Dire situation

Katumwa said that the vice is fuelled by high levels of poverty, illiteracy of some parents, cultural norms and traditions that consider a girl child as a source of wealth and therefore forced into early marriages to earn their parents dowry at the expense of their education.

United Kingdom Board Representative of Empower a Child, Portia Dobinson, addressing journalists about the International Day of the African Child during a press conference at Empower a child Uganda offices in Ntinda on June 15, 2015. Photo/Mary Kansiime

He explained that the girls are married to older men aged 40 and above, most of them with more than one wife while others are widowers.

He also said most of the men that marry young girls have not gone to school, therefore do not value education of a girl child; they use little money they have to lure parents of such girls to marry them.

"The situation is very bad and the statistics are so alarming to the African continent but specifically to our nation. There is very urgent need for us to address this silent National killer which has diverse and devastating health, education, mental, emotional and psychological effects on a girl child," said Katumwa.

Katumwa was speaking during a press conference at their offices in Ntinda Monday to commemorate the annual  International Day of the African Child celebrated on the June 16.

This year's theme is "25 years after the adoption of the African Children's Charter: Accelerating our collective efforts to end child marriage in Africa,"

Uganda ranks 15th in Africa

Further revelations from the UNICEF report observed that Uganda falls among the 15 worst African countries with high numbers of child brides in the world. This rate estimates to be at 46% is higher than the African average of 39%.

He appealed to parliament to fast track the amendment of the Children's 'Act so that it may be effectively enforced in order to have the protection cover and care of children but also set touch laws that forbid child marriages with severe penalties.

Roselyn Akware, sponsorship manager (ECU) said that to stop child marriages and overturn the demographics, there is need for partners engaged in education development both government and private sector to support institutions in the establishment of conducive environments for the girl child to stay in school but also monitor and give support.

"To stop child marriages, there is need to engage seriously in education, put more strategies in place to encourage girls to stay in school. This requires collective efforts by government and development partners," said Akware. 

She further noted that this is the time that parents/caregivers and schools put more emphasis on teaching about sex education appropriately to reduce on girls dropping early out of schools.

Akware also said that families, communities especially in rural areas need to be sensitised on the dangers of child marriages and called upon civil society organisations and government to intensify the sensitisation process.