NGOs raise red flag on early marriages, teenage pregnancies in Buyende

Buyende, Uganda:- Civil society organisations and Girls Advocacy Clubs have issued a strong call to action to end the rising cases of teenage pregnancies and child marriages in Buyende District, which remains among the worst affected in Uganda, according to the 2024 Annual Police Crime Report.

The appeal was delivered during the belated Women’s Day celebrations held at Kirimbi Primary School, where activists, students, and leaders gathered to spotlight the plight of girls in the region.

Saida Naigaga, Adolescent Champion under the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), urged local leaders and all stakeholders to rise to the defence of the girl child, describing the persistent issues as grave violations of human rights and moral codes.

“It is time to take bold and collective action to protect the rights and potential of girls. Teenage pregnancy and early marriage rob young girls of their future, dignity, and dreams,” Naigaga said. “Be the change. Protect and empower the girl child.”

At the same function, the East African Legislative Assembly MP, Hon. Veronica Babirye Kadogo called for a multifaceted, grassroots approach to tackling the problem, urging political aspirants to prioritise gender-related challenges in their manifestos.

“The call to action should shock us all into rising up. We must create an environment where every girl completes school and lives free from the fear of defilement and forced marriage,” Hon Babirye emphasized, adding, “Those seeking public office should be held accountable if they exclude action plans for gender vices.”

She further pledged to raise the issue to relevant stakeholders, championing policy changes and community-driven efforts to shift harmful cultural norms that suppress girls’ growth and ambitions.

Advocacy for Menstrual Health and Education

Meanwhile, Ms Miria Kagoda Kafuko, chairperson of the FAWE Uganda Girls Empowerment Movement from Premiere College Gwase, called on government to address menstrual health equity by providing free sanitary pads to schoolgirls.

“It is ironical that the government provides free condoms to men but still debates the necessity of sanitary pads for girls,” she said. “Even our top education and parliamentary leaders are women. They know this need—why is it still neglected?”

Kafuko urged the government to include changing rooms and sanitation facilities in school building plans, noting that poor menstrual hygiene and lack of basic facilities continue to force girls out of school prematurely.

Community Engagement

The KOICA advocacy team also conducted an emotional community dialogue, highlighting the urgent need for continued outreach, legal enforcement, and community education on the dangers of early marriages and teenage pregnancies.

Their recommendations include; strengthening local by-laws and their enforcement, scaling up parenting programs, integrating adolescent-friendly reproductive health services into health centres, and promoting social awareness on the rights of girls.