Summary:
- According to the Uganda Health and Demographic Survey 2022, Kasese has the highest number of girls becoming pregnant at an early age, with approximately 12 girls impregnated daily.
KASESE: Kasese District is grappling with alarmingly high rates of teenage pregnancies, contributing to a significant school dropout rate, especially among girls.
According to the Uganda Health and Demographic Survey 2022, Kasese has the highest number of girls becoming pregnant at an early age, with approximately 12 girls impregnated daily.
Reach a Hand Uganda (RAHU), a non-governmental organization promoting sexual and reproductive health rights, has identified the most affected sub-counties as Maliba, Bwesumbu, Munkunyu, and Kyarumba.
Ms. Kevin Mubuke, a child protection officer at Save the Children, emphasized the urgent need for both state and non-state actors to collaborate in addressing defilement, which is a leading cause of teenage pregnancies and early marriages.
She expressed confidence that collective efforts from all stakeholders will combat this issue, which is robbing young girls of their futures.
Mubuke further noted that young girls who become mothers often struggle to properly care for their children, leading to malnutrition and stunted growth.
During an Inter-generational Dialogue held in Kasese town yesterday, Rwenzururu Queen Agnes Ithungu Asiimawe stressed the importance of empowering boys to become protectors of girls. She pointed out that efforts to empower girls alone would be insufficient without also educating boys.
In addition, Kasese District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Florence Kabugho, called on religious and cultural leaders to take an active role in the fight against defilement and incest, which she described as issues deeply affecting society.
