During a stakeholder dialogue organized by the Local Sustainable Communities Organization (LOSCO) at White Horse Inn in Kabale, the Kabale District Health Officer, Dr. Gilbert Arinaitwe Mateeka, highlighted the alarming issue of teenage pregnancies in the district, stating, “Over 1300 cases of teenage pregnancies are recorded in the district every year.”
Dr. Mateeka went on to provide statistics, saying, “Kabale District registered 1,346 teenage pregnancies in 2020, 1,479 cases in 2021, and 1,478 cases in 2022.
“He emphasized that these numbers only scratch the surface, as there are numerous undocumented cases where victims never seek professional medical assistance.
In expressing the gravity of the situation, Dr. Mateeka explained, “Teenage pregnancies are usually unwanted and unprepared for, resulting in both health and psychological effects on the lives of the victims.
“He cited complications during pregnancy and at the time of delivery, with some teenagers resorting to abortion and the associated risks.
Highlighting the broader impact, he added, “The majority of the victims end up dropping out of school, thus bringing their education and life dreams to an abrupt end.
“Dr. Alfred Besigensi, the Kabale District Senior Health Educator, and Florence Tumuheirwe, the Executive Director of Kigezi Women in Development (KWID), attributed the problem to insufficient sex education.
They emphasized that teenagers engage in sex at an early age due to a lack of understanding of the consequences involved.
The Kabale Deputy Resident Commissioner, Ronald Bakak, raised concerns about unethical law enforcement officers, stating, “Uganda is still struggling with unethical law enforcement officers, especially the Police.
He mentioned instances where the police collude with parents to negotiate with suspects of defilement cases, leading to some cases never reaching the courts of law. Mr. Bakaki assured strong measures against such officers to protect the girl child in Kabale.
Albert Taremwa, the Director of LOSCO, explained that the dialogue aimed to raise awareness to mitigate maternal mortality and improve access to sexual reproductive health and rights in Kabale.
He said, “This is why we are organizing this dialogue, in partnership with the Center for Health, Human Rights, and Development (CEHURD).”
The latest Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) report revealed that the national teenage pregnancy rate is at 25%, with one out of four Ugandan women giving birth by the age of 18.
Dr. Charles Olaro, the Director for Curative Services at the Health Ministry, shared plans to allow girls as young as 15 years to access contraceptive services. However, this policy is subject to Cabinet and Parliament’s approval.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, expressed discontent with the idea, stating during a plenary session, “They don’t talk about it.
” He joined Amuru District Woman MP Lucy Akello in arguing that the policy might legitimize fornication in teenagers. Tayebwa emphasized, “It is not good.”