By Matthew Okello
TORORO
Calls for action to end early marriages and other sexual abuses against girls have dominated the celebrations to mark International Day of the Girl Child in Uganda.
The day, aimed at highlighting the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls’ empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights, was observed in Merikit Unit primary school under the theme’Girls’ vision for the future’. This year’s theme conveys both the need for urgent action and persistent hope, driven by the power of girls’ voices and vision for the future.
At the function, girls and activists decried rampant early marriages, teenage pregnancies and other sexual abuses which have led girls to drop out of school. Angela Awori, a primary six pupil at Merikit unit primary school, said that two of her friends were forced into marriage.
She added that some of the girls have been forced into early marriages at age of 13 hence depriving them a right to education, while others have contracted diseases from forceful marriages.
Catherine Akongo the Tororo district senior education officer says that at least three out 10 girls in Tororo district who sit Primary Leaving Examination don’t join Secondary school after they are either forced into marriage or become pregnant.
Presenting on behalf of Africa Water Solution the Civil Society Organizations that organized the ceremony, Isreren Ruth called for accelerated action on existing commitments made towards advancing the rights of the girls.
Iseren also asked parents to listen to the voices of their girl children and respond appropriately as a way of helping the girl child in overcoming obstacles to their education.
She faulted parents for giving much of their attention to social gatherings like night funeral functions at the expense of the future of their children.
Iseren also revealed that the organization will continue to ensure that girls who have dropped out of school due to early marriages or teenage pregnancies are given a second opportunity to return to school and complete studies.
Bernard Oboli, the Inspector of Schools called upon all stakeholders to join hands and support the education of not only the girl child but also boys.
The 2016 Uganda Demographic Health Survey (UDHS) report indicates that an estimated 25 per cent of Ugandan teenage girls are either mothers or pregnant.
According to the UNICEF Report of 2011, Uganda is one of the countries with the highest early and forced marriages. 10 percent of girls are married off before the age of 15 and 40 percent of girls married off before their 18th birthday
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