Teen moms in Buikwe district had an opportunity of sharing their dreams and ambitions with Woman member of parliament Judith Babirye on Thursday.
During a meeting held at Nyenga in Buikwe district, several teenagers shared their painful and horrific experiences with the politician who also doubles as a musician, urging that they cannot fulfill these dreams because their parents cannot take them back to school after dropping out due to pregnancy.
Uganda has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in Sub-Saharan Africa at over 25%, according to reports. And not many ever make it back to school.
In many schools, management does not accept them back and in other instances, such young mothers or mothers-to-be shun returning to school due to fear of being stigmatized.
Some will look to abortion as a way of escaping the kind of inevitable misery that would follow, including being driven out of home by frustrated parents. Some families believe that having their daughter conceive at a very early age is a disgrace.
Babirye encouraged the girls, serving them with basic necessities like sugar and soap. She called upon the parents to take Children back to school for a brighter future awaits them.
“These are girls that have been victim of circumstance, but they dream of a bright future – they dream of a better future. So today were are appealing to all mothers and people everywhere to protect the girl child. She is the foundation of a nation.” She said.
Judith Babirye said that girls have a right to education, employment and good health.
“But many of them cannot access such services because of they are under age, they don’t know what to do, they need to be guided,” She said. “We have plans, God willing, we will have our own place where we can mentor them in maybe; hair styling, carpentry and so many other things. We believe they are still capable despite what has happened in their lives.”
marvin@ugchristiannews.com
