Underage mothers worry Busoga leaders

Rose Kyaterekera, 17, gets out of her residence with a baby strapped onto her back at Budoma village in Luuka district. She proceeds to fetch water from the nearby communal borehole to prepare lunch for her family.

"My parents could no longer raise my school fees, so I decided to get married and I am now used to being a housewife," Kyaterekera narrates.

In the neighbouring Iganga district, Nabwire, 16, moves around her compound in Bukonko village with a seven-month-old baby as she goes about her daily chores.

According to Nabwire, she dropped out of Primary Six at Bulubandi Primary School, located in Iganga Municipality. Josephine Tabu, her mother, explains that as a casual labourer, she could not raise the sh75,000 school fees at the public school.

"This is a school under Universal Primary Education but authorities demand money. So, since we could not afford, Nabwire ended up in marriage," Tabu says.

Nabwire and Kyaterekera are some of the many teenage mothers in Busoga sub-region. Genesis A recent Straight Talk Foundation study in Iganga and Mayuge districts shows that approximately 32 underage girls are impregnated every year.

According to the report, this usually arises from defilement or rape by a close friend or relatives. Davis Ndawula, the Iganga district Police commander, argues that reported defilement cases cannot portray the reality since many incidents are concealed for numerous reasons. 

"Some parents or guardians prefer getting compensation from the boys' parents. At times they turn to Police when it is too late and evidence has been tampered with," he says.

Wycliff Ibanda, the Kaliro district chairperson, argues that the closure of schools due to COVID-19 may have contributed to the high number of underage mothers.

"The idle school-going girls are roaming around villages with lustful men watching closely. The impact may not be felt immediately, but it will certainly be evident later," he says.

Worrying trend According to the United Nations Child Fund (UNICEF) statistics for 2018, an estimated one out of every four Ugandan teenagers has had a baby or became pregnant.

The report further states that child marriage is prevalent, with four out of every 10 women married before the age of 18. Dr David Muwanguzi, the Iganga district health officer, reveals that about eight out of every 10 underage mothers fend for themselves.

"A sizeable number are impregnated at school and the fathers refuse to take responsibility for fear of being prosecuted over defilement. The end result is a single mother added to society," Muwanguzi notes.

Abdumalik Kintu, the Bulamagi subcounty chief, observes that local statistics put the number of underage mothers in the area at 1,200. Solutions sought Kawo Kaweere Nayi, the Namayingo district education officer, notes that local NGOs have embarked of provision of scholarships to girls.

"Those already out of school are offered vocational skills. This is one way of empowering them," Nayi notes.

Anatoli Katungwensi, the Busoga East Regional police chief, says police have embarked on community policing to sensitise locals on common crimes.