Tororo district has reported a sudden increase in teenage pregnancy with over 1800 cases reported in a period of 90 days hence threatening to cut short- the pursuit for education amongst girls of school-going age.
The information was contained in data presented by the district bio-statician, Mr Ali Mugerwa, during a district stakeholder’s dialogue held June 4 by National Association of Women Organisation of Uganda.
According to the data, 1,833 girls aged between 10-19 years were reported pregnant within a period of 90 days.
Mr Mugerwa said ‘‘the highlighted cases of teenage pregnancy are much less than the actual number because these are just those who managed to go for antenatal services yet a big number fear to go for antenatal services thinking that they will be laughed at.’’
He noted that the data, involving cases of defilement by close family members- was extracted from the district health management information system sourced from public health facilities.
“All the people who impregnated these innocent children need to be arraigned before court but it’s becoming a challenge as some of the parents connive with the suspects,” he said.
He blamed both parents and the ineffective justice system for the prevailing crisis adding that if parents were playing their roles well these would not have happened.
Ms Pauline Nabwire, the program’s officer at National Association of Women Organization of Uganda attributes the surge to poor parenting coupled with greed for dowry, poverty, peer pressure and values reinforced by tradition.
“Most of the communities here are poor with majority of them not in position to have a meal in a day and as a result parents end up forcing their daughters to marry so that they are given bride price” she says.
Number of cases in worst hit sub counties
Melinda 169
Eastern division of Tororo Municipality 148
Nagongera 138
Kirewa 136
Mukuju 129
Kwapa 105
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