Authorities in Moroto district are sounding the alarm over a surge in teenage pregnancies, driven by crippling poverty and hunger that have left young girls vulnerable to sexual exploitation.
In the sub-counties of Tapac, Katikekile, Nadunget, and even within Moroto municipality, the number of child mothers is rising at an alarming rate. Girls as young as 13 are bearing children, forced into premature motherhood with no support.
Rebecca Meri, a resident of Natumukasikou village, describes the situation as heartbreaking. “These young girls, barely out of childhood themselves, are now struggling to raise babies. They are burdened with responsibilities they cannot handle,” she says.
The desperation doesn’t end there. Many teenage mothers, some as young as 14, are turning to brewing alcohol as a means of survival. “The moment a girl conceives, her next step is to buy a bucket and start brewing alcohol,” Meri explains. “It has become a norm.”
Solomon Koryang, the LCI Chairperson of Natumukasikou ward, attributes the crisis to biting poverty and negative peer influence. He notes that many teenage mothers are trapped in extreme hardship, often forced out of their homes by domestic violence.
“These girls leave home under the pretense of visiting friends, but in reality, they are seeking escape,” Koryang says. “What they find instead is a world that preys on their vulnerability.”
Simon Peter Lotem, the LCIII Chairperson of Nadunget Sub County, highlights another grim reality—hunger is pushing girls into sexual exploitation.
“Many of these girls have no options,” Lotem explains. “They trade their bodies for the smallest support—food, money, even just a place to sleep. It’s survival, not choice.”
He points fingers at boda boda riders, chapatti makers, drivers, and small business owners, accusing them of preying on vulnerable girls, impregnating them, and then abandoning them. The burden, once again, falls back on struggling parents.
Health and Justice Systems Failing Teenage Mothers
Despite the staggering numbers, teenage mothers rarely seek medical care. Sarah Auma, a midwife at Tapac Health Center III, reveals that they register at least two teenage mothers daily, but most only seek care in the final days of pregnancy.
“They struggle during delivery because their bodies aren’t ready. Their pelvises are too rigid, making childbirth dangerous for both mother and baby,” Auma explains.
Meanwhile, the police admit they are struggling to combat the crisis. Mike Longole, the Mt. Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson, acknowledges that defilement and early marriages are rampant, but cases remain largely unreported.
“In Singila village, girls as young as 12 are married off due to deep-rooted cultural practices,” Longole says. “Parents hide the truth, refusing to report cases to the police. It’s as if they are complicit in this crime.”
Authorities are urging parents and community leaders to break the silence, report perpetrators, and fight against harmful traditions. But as long as poverty and hunger continue to grip Moroto, young girls will remain trapped in a devastating cycle of abuse and neglect.
