Teenage Motherhood on rise in Kiruhura District
The alarming rise in teenage motherhood within Kiruhura District has become a major concern for community leaders and organizations working to promote girl-child development. Speaking at a meeting held yesterday at Kiruhura Women In Development (K-WID) headquarters in Kiruhura town council, local officials and representatives from various N0n Governmental Organisations (NGOs) highlighted the urgent need to address the root causes of the problem.
Fortunate Abaho, the Principal Probation Officer for Kiruhura District revealed that the number of teen mothers is increasing across all sub counties with girls giving birth at ages 14, 16 and 17. She attributed this trend to early marriages which she says are often arranged by parents seeking material wealth.
Abaho criticized some parents for marrying off their daughters at young ages and noted that early involvement in sexual activities coupled with a lack of proper guidance, exacerbates the issue.“The district has been trying to sensitize communities and discourage early marriages but efforts have not yielded the desired results,” Abaho lamented. “We remain overwhelmed by the persistent problem of teenage pregnancies and girl-child marriages.”
Representatives from organizations advocating for girl-child education and rights including Kyomukama Phoebe and Ayo Florence emphasized the importance of fighting against girl-child marriage and promoting education. They called for intensified community awareness campaigns and stronger enforcement of laws protecting girls from early marriages.
AIP Kalengusa Clovis the officer in charge of the Children and Family Unit at Kiruhura District Police pointed out that poverty is a significant factor contributing to early marriages. He urged stakeholders to collaborate and speak out against teenage pregnancies and girl-child marriage to protect the future of young girls.
Students from Bishops Girls School in Rushere including Natweta Dorreck voiced their concerns stating that early marriages not only destroy girls’ futures but also diminish respect for parents and the community as a whole.
The gathering underscored the urgent need for coordinated efforts to combat early marriages and teenage pregnancies, with community leaders emphasizing that safeguarding girl-child rights is essential for the sustainable development of Kiruhura District.
