Teenage Pregnancy Epidemic in Busoga
By Grace Nuwahereza
In the heart of Busoga, a big problem is hurting our young people. Many teenagers are getting pregnant. The rate is very high, with 34% of teenagers affected. This is much higher than the national average. In 2020 alone, there were 46,337 cases of teenage pregnancy. This is more than the numbers in 2017 and 2019.
Kamuli and Mayuge are the most affected areas. Kamuli had 6,535 cases and Mayuge had 6,705 cases. These numbers are increasing every day, causing worry and urgency in our region. But there is a bigger problem—the people who make these teenagers pregnant are not being punished.
Research shows that many of these pregnancies are caused by defilement, where older people take advantage of young girls. These offenders often escape justice because families decide to settle the issue outside of the law, accepting compensation instead. This only encourages the wrongdoers to continue their bad behavior.
To the leaders of Busoga—cultural, religious, and community leaders—we ask for your help. We must come together to fight this problem. We need to make sure that those who harm our young people face the law and are punished.
We must also educate our youth and raise awareness about this issue. We need to provide support and rehabilitation for those affected, giving them hope and guidance.
Now is the time to take action. Let’s confront this problem and protect the future of Busoga. Our young people deserve to live without fear and injustice.
A Lawyer: Busoga Health Forum
