Staff Reporter
Monica Muhumuza Nzeirwe, the District Probations Officer for Kabale District, reported over 1,300 cases of teenage pregnancies during her address at the Day of the African Child celebration. The event, emphasized the theme “Education for All Children in Africa.
Time is now,” was held at the National Teachers College (NTC) in Kabale Municipality. It was attended by representatives from Kabale District Local Government, Rukiga, and Rubanda, and presided over by Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, the state minister for gender, labour, and social development in charge of children.
The national celebrations initially took place in Kiryadongo District and were subsequently extended to local governments.
Muhumuza revealed that the reported cases included four 15-year-old girls, with the incidents occurring between July 2023 and the present. She also noted that 2.3 percent of children in Kabale are unable to complete their education despite the availability of Universal Primary and Secondary Education. Of these dropouts, 75 percent are males, many of whom become involved in criminal activities and related social issues.
She attributed the rise in teenage pregnancies and school dropouts to poor parenting and called on all stakeholders in Kabale to ensure that every child has access to education. Muhumuza emphasized the need for realistic and proactive interventions to reduce school dropouts and teenage pregnancies.
