Kamuli religious leaders launch campaign to tackle child marriages

Kamuli, Uganda: Religious leaders in Kamuli district have joined forces to campaign against child marriage, condemning it as a sin, an abomination, and a harmful practice that robs girls of their childhood and future.

Operating under the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) and supported by Somero and the 100 Million Campaign, the leaders launched the Reject Child Marriage Nawantumbi Chapter at Nawantumbi Health Center. They vowed to use every available platform to protect girls from abuse, keep them in school, and secure their future.

According to the Busoga North Police Region annual crime report (2023/2024), the district recorded 831 cases of defilement, including 133 aggravated cases, alongside 270 incidents of child neglect, desertion, and trafficking.

Imam Juma Nkume of Nawantumbi Mosque and youth leader described the crisis of teenage pregnancies and child marriage as a painful reality rooted in poverty, harmful cultural norms, and broken parenting systems.

“We should take on empathy, not condemnation. Many girls are forced into marriage by parents who see them as a source of survival. Others drop out because they lack basic school and health needs. Let us walk with these girls, listen, and rescue them from harsh community pressures,” he said.

Florence Kaduuli, Mothers Union counselor and catechist at Christ the King Church of Uganda, Nawanyago, emphasized family values and gender-responsive health practices as key tools to protect girls.

“Like Jesus Christ did, we must look for the lost sheep. Help the girls grow with dignity, viewing their bodies as temples of God not to be desecrated. Parents and faith leaders should reach out door-to-door to guide both girls and families,” Kaduuli urged.

Gilbert Mugalanzi, Project Officer of Somero Kamuli, stressed the importance of safe spaces and re-enrollment opportunities for girls affected by stigma and teenage pregnancy. “As Somero and 100 Million, we welcome faith-based leaders as allies in building safety nets, bridging healthcare gaps, and fighting stigma. An adult marrying a child is unacceptable. Communities must rally to end this practice,” he said.

Mugalanzi noted that Somero has already reached 15,000 individuals, equipping them with hands-on skills to foster self-reliance and alternatives to exploitation.

He explained that Somero was founded by youth in Kampala’s Kawempe Division following the tragic death of a 17-year-old girl subjected to debt bondage and trafficking for sex work.

The organization now operates in 12 districts, including Kamuli, advocating for education, skills training, health, and child protection.