BY ISAAC MUMBERE
Kasese district continues to grapple with a high rate of teenage pregnancies subsequently leading to a high school drop-out rate especially for the girl child.
According to the Uganda Health and Demographic Survey 2022, Kasese leads in the number of girls who became pregnant at an early age with about 12 being impregnated on a daily basis.
Reach a Hand Uganda-RAHU, a non-governmental organization promoting sexual reproductive health rights in the district, the most affected sub-counties are Maliba, Bwesumbu, Munkunyu and Kyarumba.
According to Ms Kevin Mubuke, a child protection officer at Save the Children, there is a critical need for all state and non-state actors to work towards curbing defilement which eventually leads to these skyrocketing cases of teenage pregnancies and early marriages.
She opines that concerted efforts from all actors will definitely help fight the monster that is depriving young girls of a bright future.
According to Mubuke, when young girls produce children, they fail to properly take care of them and eventually they suffer stunted growth because of malnutrition.
During the Inter-generational Dialogue which happened in Kasese town yesterday, Rwenzururu Queen Agness Ithungu Asiimawe highlighted the need to empower young boys to become another layer of protection for the girl child.
She noted that all efforts to empower young girls would be in vain if the boys are not empowered.
Meanwhile, Kasese District Woman Member of Parliament Hon Florence Kabugho implored the religious institutions and cultural leaders to also prioritize the fight against defilement and incest which she said were eating up society.
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