BY JOLLY MBAMBU
Teenage mothers living in Muhokya Internally Displaced People’s Camp have called on the Government of Uganda to expedite the process of resettling them in an attempt for them to earn a sustainable living.
In May 2020, major rivers including Nyamwamba, Mubuku, Lhubiriha, Sebwe and Nyamugasani that stream from the Rwenzori Mountains in Kasese district burst their banks, displacing hundreds of people and destroying lots of property.
While the challenge of flooding has become a recurring and devastating issue, it has continuously caused damage not only to people’s homes but also to the infrastructure and tourism sites among others.
A case in point, is the 2020 Kasese floods that forced hundreds of people to leave their affected areas of residence and seek refuge in the 11 temporality established camps as including one in Muhokya as a way of managing some emergencies.
Prosy Kabugho, a 17 -year-old teenage mother living in Muhokya Camp, says like her fellows, they are struggling with life in Muhokya Town Council where the floods victims were taken for refuge in 2020.
Kabugho, who was 13-years old and a primary six pupil at Crimson Nursery and Primary School by then, says after the incident, together with the parents, they moved to Muhokya Camp for refuge thinking that they would stay there for a short period of time.
The teenage mother also recalls how she would not be chased from school for fees because her mother, Jozonia Masika, was a business woman dealing in cassava flour and she would ensure that her fees in paid on time. As Kabugho’s mother was paying fees, her father, Wilson Baluku, who was a boda-boda rider by then would ensure that the family is care for in terms of providing food.
Kabugho narrates how life in the camp has been a rough journey that has affected her dream of becoming a nurse.
She regrets the day their father abandoned their family of 8 and went away with another woman, forcing her mother to struggle looking after them.
According to her, she decided to enter into relationship at an early age in order to make ends meet, yet she had no knowledge about family planning methods and eventually ended up becoming pregnant
Asked about the whereabouts of the father of her child, the teenage mother said he continued with education and is currently sitting for the 2025 Uganda Certificate of Examinations.
Kabugho’s story is not different from that of Jackline Asiimwe, 18, who is currently taking care of her 6-months-old baby without any support from the father of the child.
Asiimwe narrates how she met a boda-boda rider who promised to take full care of her needs like buying sanitary pads, shoes, clothes andmeeting all the charges whenever she goes to the salon to plait her hair but all in vain.
Asiimwe also reveals that there are currently more than 20 girls who have been impregnated while in the camp including a teenager aged 14.
Kabugho and Asiimwe are, however, optimistic that life can change if their families get permanent pieces of land where they can settle and practice farming so that they are able to provide for their children.
While carrying out her Research on Localizing Gender Policies in Uganda, Helen Kenzie Noah, a scholar from the University of Nottingham, based on a report from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to enrich her research problem.
She quoted UNDP, saying that Uganda is the 13th most vulnerable country to the effects of climate change with the women and girls in poverty feeling the impacts more.
Janet Kabugho, the Executive Director of Skills Centrum Rwenzori, a Nongovernmental Organization that empowers women with skills, acknowledged that the people affected much by climate change are women and girls.According to her, during crisis, girls are raped and sexually molested.
She stressed that women and girls face challenges of access to clean and safe water that is key to their health, more especially on menstrual health.
She observed the need for the improvement of housing facilities at Muhokya IDP Camp where parents are forced to share their single rooms with their children including the youth, calling on the government to expedite the resettlement process.
During an interview with QueengondaAsiimwe, the Kasese District Senior Development Officer and Gender Focal Person, says through the support from partners, they have always been able to respond to situations related to climate change.
She mentions the partners including Center for Gender Equality, World Food Program and Bwera Women with Disabilities among others.
Asiimwe, who is also a member of Kasese District Disaster Management Committee, hails the Office of the Prime Minister for the continued support rendered towardsthe well-being of the people in the camp.
The Kasese Deputy RDC in-charge of Bukonzo County, Lt. Maate Magwara calls for joint efforts of the Nongovernmental Organizations to create awareness on menstrual hygiene to the Internally Displace People across the district as the government works on the full resettlement plan.
ENDS