By Francis Ocen
Katakwi
Katakwi district has since July 2020 to July 2021 registered over 2000 girls who have become mothers.
During an interview with Female councilor representing Getom and Akoboi sub counties in katakwi district who also doubles as secretary education and community based, Ireyne Among said that 2703 young girls between the age of twelve to seventeen years of age are now mothers and others still pregnant.
Among attributes this to prolonged COVID-19 holiday and negligence of parents who have failed to take care of their children while at home.
She added that, before schools got closed, girls and boys hardly got free time to move wherever they wanted because their minds were busy.
“The highest number of school going girls will be so much low which will put our education system in Teso to a lower state since the highest number of girls have become mothers and others are still pregnant, among lamented.” She said.
Dr. Emmanuel Ongala, the district health officer says, the hospital is overwhelmed by young mothers.
He added that, Katakwi general hospital has registered a large number of young girls attending antenatal services between the age of 13-17.
Most of these girls don’t report for such services with their spouses because some of them deny their responsibilities as fathers since they are also in the same age bracket, Dr. Ongala added.
Among however advised parents to always play their role of being parents but not to leaving everything concerning child development and responsibilities to teachers.
Some mothers in Katakwi attribute this to a two year COVID-19 holiday, idleness, while Cecilia Anyakoit an Activist and an independent professional consultant with expertise in Gender and women’s rights advocacy, young people’s Rights, also a member of national council of sports in uganda, attributes this to forgotten culture and tradition, Drug buse and urbanization.
she added that, most of these girls get pregnant at the centers where their parents go and drink and also along the roadside.
Anyakoit however advised parents to take charge of their children and teach them morals.
However, the accumulative number of young mothers in katakwi district since march 2020- July 2021 has risen rapidly to over 4000 with few of related cases reported to authorities.
