Child marriage is a formal or an informal union whereby Either or Both of the involved persons are below the legal Age of 18.

Uganda, a country with a population of over 43 million people, is faced with numerous challenges, including Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancies. According to the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) 2016, 34% of Girls in Uganda are married before the age of 18, while 15% of girls aged 15-19 have begun childbearing. These statistics are alarming and necessitate urgent action to address the root causes of child marriage and teenage pregnancies.

Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancies are major Development Challenges facing Girls, with their families in Uganda Today. Despite efforts to address these issues, Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancies remain prevalent, retarding progress towards the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The Renewed National Strategy to End Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancies in Uganda 2022-2027

In 2022, the Government of Uganda renewed its national strategy to prevent and respond to Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancies. The strategy, which was launched in 2022, outlines a comprehensive approach to addressing Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancies, including prevention, protection, and provision of services.

Implementation of the Strategy

The implementation of the strategy requires significant resources, including funding, technical assistance, and community engagement. We can only implement the recommendations in the strategy when we are supported with resources.

The Cost of Inaction

The cost of inaction is high. Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancies have severe consequences on the Health, Education, and Economic Empowerment of Girls and Women. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), child marriage and teenage pregnancies are major drivers of poverty, inequality, and social injustice.

Causes of Child Marriage

Child marriage is caused by a range of factors, including poverty, lack of Education, Cultural and Social Norms, and limited Access to Health and Social Services. In Uganda, child marriage is also driven by the practice of bride price, where the groom’s family pays a fee to the bride’s family in exchange for her hand in marriage.

Addressing Child Marriage

To address child marriage, we need to adopt a comprehensive and multi-Sectoral approach that addresses the root causes of Child Marriage. This includes:

Providing Education and Economic Empowerment opportunities for Girls and Women

Changing Cultural and Social Norms that perpetuate Child Marriage

Providing Access to Services, including Healthcare and Legal Protection

Engaging Communities and Families in the prevention and response to child marriage

We urge donors and development partners to support the implementation of the strategy with funding, technical assistance, and community engagement. Together, we can prevent child marriage and teenage pregnancies, and promote the health, education, and Economic Empowerment of Girls and Women in Uganda.

Time is of the Essence: In the time it has taken you to read this article, 23 Girls have already been Married off Globally and Uganda is not spared.

 This is a stark reminder of the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action. Please DONATE to support our efforts to prevent Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancies in Uganda. Your support can help provide Education and Economic Empowerment Opportunities for Girls and Women, change Cultural and Social Norms that perpetuate Child Marriage, and provide Access to Services, including Healthcare and legal Protection.