The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports (MoES), Janet Museveni, has raised concern about the growing numbers of early marriages that are significantly contributing to teenage pregnancies.
The minister who was presiding over a function at Lutamaguzi Memorial High School in Wattuba Town Council, Kyankwanzi District organized to commemorate and empower the girl child through education said that educating girls was less valued because they (girls) are the first option for providing domestic help in homes, gardens as well as taking care of patients and the elderly.
The First Lady in her speech delivered by Lands Minister ,Judith Nabakooba, who she delegated to represent her as Chief Guest appreciated the school management for celebrating the girl child, expressing the hidden opportunities of recognising girls in the community, including creating awareness about the importance of education in shaping and advancing the future of girls in our nation.
“Thousands of girls in societies all over the world face gender discrimination just for being born a daughter and not a son,” she noted, revealing that, in Uganda, at least 35 percent of girls drop out of school because of early marriage.
She said that her ministry conducted a study in 2015 to establish a linkage between teenage pregnancy and school dropout and it realized 22.3 percent of the school dropouts in Uganda are due to pregnancy among girls aged between 14 to 18 years.
“In COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, we recorded 358,000 teenage pregnancies, many of which, occurred in homes where we would ordinarily expect children to be protected and
shielded from the sexual abuse.”
The first lady’s message comes amidst efforts by the government to skill the girl child through the 22 skilling centres located in different regions across the country.
Mrs. Museveni called for collective efforts to safeguard children to foster development through education, mentoring, and empowerment. She noted that when girls receive education, they will consequently contribute to economic growth not only to their families but the country at large.
“Through education, we expect high family incomes, greater economic productivity and better nutrition, delayed marriage, improved maternal outcomes, improved survival rates for infants, and the improvement of the education outcomes of the children,” she explained, stressing that education prevents all consequences of child marriage.
The minister also called upon the different stakeholders not to over-focus on girls only, but also care about the life of the boy child as well to create gender equity.
“We are seeing an increase in the number of boys who have a low esteem and have turned to violent lifestyles because their needs and concerns are undermined by society.”
Lutamaguzi Memorial High School partnered with Harambee Cooperative Group, an association that brings together children of the National Resistance Army (NRA) soldiers.
In response to the day’s theme of empowering a girl child, Harambee organised a run that was attended by learners from different schools.
“As children of the fighters, we have joined this initiative to sensitise for a girl child’s education because we realised our daughters do not go far in studies,” Ms Juliet Kazini, the Chief Executive Director of Harambee noted.
Mr Joshua Katamba Lutamaguzi, the organizer of the event said he had started skilling the girl child in different activities including tailoring, liquid soap making, and hair dressing among others.
“We are planning to set up a skilling centre at this school. We have already acquired an acre of land in this same estate. We therefore appeal for the government’s financial support to turn our dream true,” he requested the education minister.
He also revealed plans to extend the school’s dormitory that will accommodate all learners, citing fewer blocks at the school. Ms Perusi Kabale, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Kyankwanzi District, also graced the function and thanked the First Lady for fighting for equity and ensuring children receive quality education.
In her docket as the Lands Minister, Ms Nabakooba noted the prevalence of land conflicts and grabbing across the country and made assurances to the bibanja holders that they are protected under the law.
She guided that for all the land cases that are still in court, no evictions are allowed as per the directive by the President. She asked the security committees led by the RDCs/RCCs to always ensure peace and stability in their areas.
The lands Minister commissioned a team that will mobilise communities to keep girls at school, and these are expected to move door to door spreading the gospel to parents during this long holiday.
She also handed over a Shs10 million contribution to the chief organizer of the event on behalf of the First Lady. In return, the organisers also gifted the first lady a cow.
