Busoga Kingdom concerned over rising cases of teenage pregnancy

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Busoga Kingdom has raised concerns about the increasing cases of teenage pregnancies in the sub-region, viewing it as a significant threat to the future of its young population.

While delivering his Christmas message at St. Joseph Cathedral Rubaga, the Jinja diocesan headquarters in Jinja city, Dr. Joseph Muvawala, the kingdom’s prime minister, urged religious leaders and other stakeholders to join hands in the fight against this alarming trend.

Dr. Muvawala, who is also the executive director of the National Planning Authority (NPA), called for the urgent need for collective action, saying that teenage pregnancies not only jeopardize the health and education of young girls but also hinder the region's socio-economic development.

“The increasing rates of teenage pregnancies in Busoga are unacceptable. We cannot sit back and watch our daughters' dreams fade away. As a kingdom, we are committed to creating awareness and supporting initiatives aimed at ending this crisis,” Dr. Muvawala said.

He called upon religious and local leaders to leverage their influence in the community to sensitise families about the dangers of early pregnancies and promote moral guidance.

He explained that God created the world and sent us to replenish it. However, this is now being done incorrectly, affecting children as young as 12 years old in the kingdom.

During a recent visit to a health facility in Kamuli district, he noted that out of 100 women seeking antenatal services, 40 were teenage girls under the age of 16. Additionally, he observed that 20 of these women were infected with HIV/AIDS and were receiving treatment.

“Children starting from the age of 12 years are mostly affected by getting early pregnancies. If we don’t join our hands now to fight this problem as a kingdom, then we are doomed,” he noted.

He called on parents to stop neglecting their children but instead take them as personal responsibilities to groom them into right-thinking persons of society.

The premier also mentioned that the kingdom had partnered with UNAIDS to fight the teenage pregnancy vice.

He also announced plans to collaborate with schools, local governments, and non-governmental organizations to roll out programs focused on reproductive health education, mentorship, and empowerment for young girls.

In his sermon, Rev, Father Sylvester Arinaitwe, who led the Christmas celebrations, urged parents to take responsibility for their children’s upbringing and monitor their activities.

“Parents must play an active role in instilling discipline and educating their children about the consequences of early relationships. The church will continue to advocate for purity and provide counseling to young people,” he said.

He cautioned leaders, mainly politicians, that as they lead the nation, they should give it the right direction for prosperity because Christ was sent to die for our sins after we lost direction in this world.