Cultural leader to champion fight against teen pregnancies in East Acholi

24 June 2025, 9:53 pm

By Odong Daniel

The rise in teenage pregnancies, child marriages and ultimately the number of adolescent mothers has been widely reported despite presence of N.G.Os after decades of war.

Agago registered the highest number of pregnancies of 2,288 followed by kitgum with 2,046, Pader district with 1,525 and lamwo with 1,210 during a stake holder meeting organized by ADRA Uganda at Boma Hotel in Kitgum.

The meeting brought together cultural leaders from different clan, media practitioners, Community development officer, District Health Officers, L.C.III Chairpersons in selected sub-counties among others.

M/S Oyella Joyce, Palabek Camp commandant at the office of the prime minister told LUO F.M that the rise in teen pregnancies at camp is due to cultural differences because girls of 17 years are married off and it’s normal for the South Sudanese.

According to Section 2 of the Children’s (Amended) Act of Uganda,  child marriage is referred to as any union whether formal or informal involving any person below the age of 18years for the purpose of living as husband and wife.

Marriage before the age of 18years is a fundamental violation of human rights, many factors of early marriage interacts to place a child at risk for example pregnancy, exposure to sexual transmitted infections and many more.

Young girls are usually very vulnerable when they approach adolescent stage because of the increasing demands like sanitary pads, dress smartly, own phones and other material things that their parents cannot afford.

Rwot Atata Samson of Cwa attributed it to poor parenting and guidance; some parents leave their children to dress indecently leaving them prey to men who are irresponsible

Poverty coupled with cultural practices have resulted in increased vulnerabilities of children in the northern district of Kitgum, exposing many girls to child marriages. Local leaders and social workers say the number of those affected continues to grow.

Mr. Opio Mohamed the L.C.II chairperson who also doubles as chairperson elders persons in Agago district says the Acholi culture is dying because we are copying the western culture.

The practice of child marriage affects over 60% of the young girls in Uganda of which 15% are married by age of 15 and 49% by the age of 18 years. Teenage pregnancies remain high (24%) although statistics show a declining trend. This implies that a number of adolescent girls and boys are denied their childhood and their rights to exploit the expanded education opportunities

Mr. Okii Nobert the Probation and Social Welfare officer at Pader District local Government says it is important that ker Kwaro Acholi should work with the local gogernment if they are to end early pregnacy and child mirrage.

He also thanked ADRA Uganda for working in 10 sub-counties of Adilang, Atanga, Namukora, Kalongo Omiya nyima among others  to increase health rights by the most mageninalised adolescent girls, children and women