On 3rd September 2024, Uganda awoke to the startling news of a 16-year-old giving birth to quadruplets. While this incredible feat might prompt some to celebrate her resilience and the safe delivery of her babies, it also underscores a pressing issue: teenage pregnancy. This case highlights both a personal triumph and a national crisis that we cannot afford to ignore. Subsequent media reports reveal that she is unable to breastfeed all four infants and cannot afford formula, prompting her to seek public assistance.

She is among the 25 percent of teenage mothers (1 out 4) under 18 girls, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). This staggering statistic points to a much larger issue at play. For a nation grappling with a deficit budget, rampant corruption, and significant debt (Shs96.1 trillion – IMF), the burden of supporting more teenage mothers, many of whom lack financial resources, poses a serious challenge.

The National Planning Authority estimates that over Shs645 billion is required annually to provide healthcare for teenage mothers and education for their children. This is an expense Uganda simply cannot overlook.

Teenage pregnancies not only strain our already limited resources but also deprive the nation of future skilled human capital. As teenage mothers often struggle to return to school due to stigma and the demands of motherhood, they face a bleak future affecting their educational and employment opportunities. This educational gap exacerbates gender inequality and increases vulnerability to gender-based violence.

If the conversation around comprehensive sexuality education and contraceptives among sexually active teens is continually demonised, aren’t we giving up on our girls? It should be noted that these pregnancies can be prevented by having open discussions on sexuality and investing in the availability of family planning services at the lowest level. However, government investment is still insufficient.

To address this crisis, we must enhance awareness efforts on the dangers of teenage pregnancies, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health among girls especially in highrisk areas. These include districts in Bukedi sub region such as Pallisa, Kibuku, Budaka, Butaleja, Tororo and Busia, where teenage pregnancies are at 25.9%, according to the Uganda Demographic Health Survey.

Implementing mindset change programmes is also imperative to address and shift negative social norms and cultural practices, that are a common precursor of teenage pregnancies. Unfortunately, government’s investment in mindset change has been minimal. The allocation for the Community Mobilisation & Mind-set Change (CMMC) in the current FY2024/25 budget shows a -93% funding gap.

Carrying out Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in schools at a faster pace could make a significant difference. This would help educate both young girls and boys about their bodies and how to protect themselves, while also providing support for teenage mothers to reintegrate into education or acquire new skills.

It is also important to create youth-friendly corners in health facilities to disseminate sexual reproductive health information and provide services. At the moment, many health centres do not have the friendly corners and where they are, functionality is poor.

At the Forum or Women in Democracy, through our various projects, we have continuously advocated for increased government funding for youth friendly corners in health centres and have actively promoted family planning education for girls to empower them with knowledge to making informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. Our male engagement programme also aims to challenge and transform the harmful social and cultural practices that further perpetuate teenage pregnancies.

Teenage pregnancies are not just a personal issue; they impact us all. As a nation, we must act decisively and compassionately to address this crisis. Investing in prevention, education, and support services is crucial to saving our girls and securing a brighter future for Uganda.

Elizabeth Ampairwe
Director of Programmes – Forum for Women in Democracy.