CHILD, EARLY AND FORCED

MARRIAGE IN UGANDA

Submitted by:
Joy for Children Uganda
P.O. Box 15383,
Clock Tower,
Kampala Uganda
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.joyforchildren.org
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
Child marriage is a global problem affecting Back ground
millions of girls across the world. It is
considered a human rights violation because The term “early marriage” is used to refer to
it deprives those involved of education and both formal marriages and informal unions
health services, the chance to learn skills and in which a girl lives with a partner as if
develop their personalities and leaves them married before age of 18 (UNICEF 2005;
vulnerable. It is an appalling violation of Forum on Marriage and the rights of women
human rights and robs girls of their and girls 2001). For UNFPA (2006) early
education, health and long-term prospects,” marriage, also known as Child marriage, is
says Babatunde Osotimehin, M.D, defined as “any marriage carried out below
Executive Director, UNFPA. Despite the the age of 18 years, before the girl is
physical damage and the persistent physically, physiologically, and
discrimination to young girls, little progress psychologically ready to shoulder the
has been made toward ending the practice of responsibilities of marriage and
child marriage. This is commonly caused by childbearing.” Child marriage, on the other
increasing levels of poverty, low levels of hand, involves either one or both spouses
education backed by cultural and traditional being children and may take place with or
beliefs of securing the lives of girls in without formal registration, and under civil,
marriage. In fact, the problem threatens to religious or customary laws.
increase with the expanding youth It also refers to any marriage of a child
population in developing world. younger than 18 years old, in accordance to
Article 1 of the convention of the right of
The report puts together findings and the child.
recommendations from different research
about child, early and forced marriage in Forced marriage is the marriage conducted
Uganda to guide and encourage policy without the valid consent of one or both
makers, programme designers and parties and is a marriage in which duress-
implementers the processes of mitigating the whether physical or emotional- is a factor.
vice. Any child marriage constitutes a forced
marriage, in recognition that even if a child The prevalence of child, early and forced
appears to give their consent, any one below marriage in Uganda
the age of 18 is not able to make a fully
According to Demographic and Health
informed choice whether or not to marry.
Surveys (DHS), which provide much of the
Child marriages must be viewed within a
current country-level child marriage data,
context of force and coercion, involving
child marriage is most common in the
pressure and emotional blackmail and
world’s poorest countries. The highest rates
children that lack the choice or capacity to
are in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia as
give their full consent. Most early marriages
well as parts of Latin America and the
are arranged and based on the consent of
Caribbean (ICRW 2006; NRC/IOM 2005).
parents and often fail to ensure the best
interests of the girl child. Early marriages
Uganda is one of the countries with the
often include some elements of force, (Otoo
highest early and forced marriage. 10% of
Oyortey and Pobi 2003). One in seven girls
girls are married off before the age of 15 and
in the developing world marries before 15
40% of girls re married off before their 18th
(Population Council 2006). Nearly half of
birth day (UNICEF 2011). Around 46 per
the 331 million girls in developing countries
cent of all women are married by the age of
are expected to marry by their 20th birthday.
18, according to UNICEF 2011 figures
At this rate, 100 million more girls—or
despite the law setting 18 as the legal age of
25,000 more girls every day—will become
marriage.
child brides in the next decade (Bruce and
Clark 2004). Between 2011 and 2020, more A report submitted by a journalist Mutegeki

than 140 million girls will become child Goffrey in March 2012, in Kabarole district,

brides, according to United Nations 20 primary pupils have been married off in a

Population Fund (UNFPA). If current levels period of three months. These include three

of child marriages hold, 14.2 million girls pupils from Kibyo Primary School, five

annually or 39 000 daily will marry too from Mahyoro Primary School in Karangura

young. Furthermore, of the 140 million girls Sub County, five from Kibaata Primary

who will marry before they are 18, 50 School Bunyangabu Sub County and seven

million will be under the age of 15. from Kateebwa SDA primary school in
Kateebw Sub County. The research indicates
that, their parents aided the process in Universal Declaration of Human Rights
exchange of goats and some other material (1948) Article 16.2: Marriage shall be
items. entered into only with the free and full
consent of the intending spouses. Therefore
A survey carried out by Joy for Children
early and forced marriage is a violation of
Uganda in the mountainous sub counties of
human rights. Child marriage denies girls
Kabarole- Karangura, Kabonero, and
their rights to health, education, to live in
Kateebwa inhabited mainly by Bakonjo in
security and to choose when and whom they
July –October 2013; it was found out that
marry.
child marriage is the leading cause of girls
dropping out of school. At Nyarukamba
There are numerous detrimental
Primary school in Karangura Sub County,
consequences associated with early marriage
the school drop out rate of girls for marriage
which involve physical, developmental,
was at 15% in 2009 and 10% in 2012. The
psychological and social implications.
young girls are married off in exchange of
.
goats ranging from 1-5.
Physical consequences
Biira Annet (not real name) 14 did not sit
When a child bride is married she is likely to
for her Primary Leaving Examination 2013
be forced into sexual activity with her
at Nyarukamba Primary school in
husband, and at an age where the bride is not
Karangura Sub County. Her parents
physically and sexually mature this has
negotiated for her marriage without her
severe health consequences.
consent in exchange of 2 goats in a nearby
community. The Head Teacher reported
Child brides are likely to become pregnant
the case to police but the parents insisted
at an early age and there is a strong
that their daughter went to visit her
correlation between the age of a mother and
relatives in another district.
maternal mortality. Girls ages l0-14 are five
The impact of child marriage on the times more likely to die in pregnancy or
human rights of women and girls in childbirth than women aged 20-24 and girls
Uganda. aged 15-19 are twice as likely to die. Young
mothers face higher risks during pregnancies
including complications such as heavy
bleeding, fistula, infection, anemia and future husbands may already be infected
eclampsia which contribute to higher from previous sexual encounters; a risk
mortality rates of both mother and child. At which is particularly acute for girls with
a young age a girl has not developed fully older husbands. The age disparity between a
and her body may strain under the effort of child bride and her husband, in addition to
child birth, which can result in obstructed her low economic autonomy, further
labour and obstetric fistula. Obstetric fistula increases a girl's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.
can also be caused by the early sexual It exacerbates the abilities of girls and
relations associated with child marriage, women to make and negotiate sexual
which take place sometimes even before decisions, including whether or not to
menarche. engage in sexual activity, issues relating to
the use of contraception and condoms for
Good prenatal care reduces the risk of
protecting against HIV infection, and also
childbirth complications, but in many
their ability to demand fidelity from their
instances, due to the limited autonomy or
husbands.
freedom of movement, young wives are not
able to negotiate access to health care. They Developmental consequences
may be unable to access health services
Child Marriage also has considerable
because of distance, fear, expense or the
implications for the social development of
need for permission from a spouse or in-
child brides, in terms of low levels of
laws. These barriers aggravate the risks of
education, poor health and lack of agency
maternal complications and mortality for
and personal autonomy. The Forum on
pregnant adolescents.
Marriage and the Rights of Women and
Child brides may also suffer vulnerability to Girls explains that 'where these elements are
HIV/AIDS. Being young and female in linked with gender inequities and biases for
Africa is a major risk factor for infection and the majority of young girls, their
young girls are being infected at a socialization which grooms them to be
considerably disproportional rate to that of mothers and submissive wives, limits their
boys. Whilst early marriages are sometimes development to only reproductive roles.
seen by parents as a mechanism for
protecting their daughters from HIV/AIDS,
Whilst girls in Africa are already less likely It is a huge responsibility for a young girl to
to go to attend school than boys, particularly become a wife and mother and because girls
in poorer households, the non-education of are not adequately prepared for these roles
the girl child is a problem compounded by this heavy burden has a serious impact on
child marriage, with studies showing a their psychological welfare, their
strong correlation between a woman's age at perceptions of themselves and also their
marriage and the level of education she relationship.
achieves. Large numbers of the girls who
Women who marry early are more likely to
drop out of school do so because of early
suffer abuse and violence, with inevitable
marriage, leaving many women who married
psychological as well as physical
early illiterate. Early marriage plans can also
consequences. Studies indicate that women
discourage a girl's parents from educating
who marry at young ages are more likely to
their daughter because they believe that a
believe that it is sometimes acceptable for a
formal education will only benefit her future
husband to beat his wife, and are therefore
family in law.
more likely to experience domestic violence
A lack of education also means that young themselves. Violent behavior can take the
brides often lack knowledge about sexual form of physical harm, psychological
relations, their bodies and reproduction, attacks, threatening behavior and forced
exacerbated by the cultural silence sexual acts including rape. Abuse is
surrounding these subjects. This denies the sometimes perpetrated by the husband's
girl the ability to make informed decisions family as well as the husband himself, and
about sexual relations, planning a family, girls that enter families as a bride often
and her health, yet another example of their become domestic slaves for the in-laws.
lives in which they have no control.
Early marriage has also been linked to wife
The cyclical nature of early marriage results abandonment and increased levels of
in a likely low level of education and life divorce or separation and child brides also
skills, increased vulnerability to abuse and face the risk of being widowed by their
poor health, and therefore acute poverty. husbands who are often considerably older.
In these instances the wife is likely to suffer
Psychological and social consequences
additional discrimination as in many
cultures divorced, abandoned or widowed 2004; Mathur, Greene and Malhotra 2003).
women suffer a loss of status, and may be Girls between 10 and 14 are five times more
ostracized by society and denied property likely than women ages 20 to 24 to die in
rights. pregnancy and childbirth (UNFPA and the
University of Aberdeen 2004). Girls ages 15
to 19 are twice as likely as older women to
die from childbirth and pregnancy, making
Maternal Health
pregnancy the leading cause of death in poor
Studies show a strong association between countries for this age group (Save the
child marriage and early childbirth, partly Children 2004). ratio is 178 for every
because girls are pressured to prove their 100,000 live births of women ages 15 to 19,
fertility soon after marrying and they have compared to only 32 for women ages 20 to
little access to information on reproductive 24 (FCI and the Safe Motherhood Inter-
health or ability to influence decision Agency Group 1998; CDC 2002).
making on family planning (Mathur, Greene
and Malhotra 2003; Blesdoe and Cohen Girls who have babies also have a high risk
1993; Mensch, Bruce and Greene 1998; of suffering from obstetric fistula, a
Malhotra et al. 2003). condition in which the vagina, bladder
and/or rectum tear during childbirth and, if
left untreated, cause lifelong leakage of
One third of women in developing countries
urine and feces (UNFPA and Engender
give birth before 20; as much as 55 percent
Health 2003). Two million women suffer
of women give birth before 20 (Save the
from obstetric fistula worldwide, and an
Children 2004).
additional 50,000 to 100,000 new cases
Women who bear children at a young age
develop annually among girls (Murray and
may face serious health consequences.
Lopez 1998).
Young mothers experience higher rates of
maternal mortality and higher risk of
Child marriage also exposes young married
obstructed labor and pregnancy-induced
girls to a greater risk of HIV infection.
hypertension because their bodies are
Married girls may be more vulnerable to
unprepared for childbirth (Save the Children
HIV infection because they have little option
to change their sexual behavior even with Child marriage is associated with lower
knowledge about HIV (Clark 2004). Child education and economic status of girls.
brides also have less access to quality health Child brides are less able than older or
care services and information compared to unmarried girls to access schooling and
girls who marry when they are older income-generating opportunities or to
(Mathur, Greene and Malhotra 2003; benefit from education or economic
Mensch, Bruce and Green 1998; Singh and development programs. Girls already in
Samara 1996). school are often forced to terminate their
education when they marry early (Save the
Infant Health Children 2004). Limited mobility, household
The children of teen mothers experience responsibilities, pregnancy and raising
serious health consequences as well. A child children, and other social restrictions for
born to a teen mother is twice as likely to die married girls prevent them from taking
before the age of 1 as the child of a woman advantage of education or work
in her 20s. Currently, 1 million infants of opportunities (Mathur, Greene and Malhotra
young mothers die every year worldwide as 2003). Early childbearing and motherhood,
a result of pregnancy and childbirth-related which usually accompanies early marriage,
causes. If they survive, these infants tend to also is associated with lower levels of
have higher rates of low birth weight, education and higher rates of poverty (Singh
premature birth and infant mortality than and Samara 1996; Mensch, Bruce and
those born to older mothers (Save the Greene 1998). Opportunities for young
Children 2004). After birth, infants of teen mothers to continue their education or to
mothers are more likely than infants born to work often are limited because they have
older mothers to have poorer health care and little access to resources, and are responsible
inadequate nutrition as a result of their for childbearing and household tasks (Save
young mothers’ poor feeding behavior (Save the Children 2004). Thus, early
the Children 2004; Kurz 1997). childbearing, as well as early marriage tends
to preclude further education and reinforce
Education and Economic Status poverty.
I did not sit for my Primary Leaving
Examination in 2009. My parents arranged
my marriage without my consent with a 2005; UNICEF 2005). Women who married
stranger. I gave birth to my first born when as children are more likely to have partners
I was 15. I have two children with my who have the final say on household
husband who is a peasant with little income decisions, including their visits to family or
to support the family since all of us have no friends, their health, their ability to work,
better paying jobs. I wanted to go back to large and small household purchases, and
school after giving birth but I had no one contraception (UNICEF 2005).
to leave my child with. Narrates Yuniya
Kamaliya who was a pupil at Kasisi
What is being done to end child marriage
Primary school Rutete Sub County
in Uganda?
Kabarole district.
Domestic Violence and Decision Making
The government and civil society
Girls who are married young often lack
organizations and Non-government
status and power within their marriages and
organizations are conducting awareness
households, and so are more likely to
rising on issues of early and forced child
experience domestic violence, sexual abuse,
marriages through local radio stations across
and isolation from family and community
the country since majority of rural
(UNICEF 2005; Jenson and Thornton 2003).
communities use the radio as the main
Younger married girls reported experiencing
media source. This is usually done in the
sexual violence three times more often
local dialect where everyone easily
(ICRW 2005). Girls who marry young are
understands the disseminated information
also more likely to believe violence is
and also contributes towards the debate. Joy
justified (UNICEF 2005; Jenson and
for Children Uganda in partnership with
Thornton 2003). A study found that 36
Raising voices conducts such talk shows on
percent of girls who married before 18
local radio stations in Kabarole district.
believe that men are justified in beating their
wives, compared to 20 percent of those who
The civil society organizations, Non-
married at a later age (UNICEF 2005).
government organizations and the
Lower status in the home also leaves
government run programmes in schools
married girls with less ability to influence
aimed at reducing and eliminating the vice.
decisions about their own lives (ICRW
Joy for Children Uganda run “Good This is strategically done because people
school” programme in schools of the assume that education priority should be for
Rwenzori region. The schools are mobilized boys.
to start child rights clubs aimed at
sensitizing their fellow children, teachers, Raising voices in partnership with local
parents and the community about violation Non-Government Organizations is piloting a
of children rights with child marriage taking project “Girls Education Challenge” in four
a centre stage as the major cause for school districts of Uganda- Kabarole, Kampala,
drop out especially among girls in the Luwero and Lira. The project is aimed at
region. enabling marginalized girls access school,
stay in school and complete to attain quality
It has also implementing Girls Not Brides learning out comes to increase and improve
Empower Project that works to keep girls their life chances.
to remain in school, sensitize the community
on danger of child marriages and
economically empowers vulnerable families Agape of Hope Female Youth
to prevent children. The project is being Development Association a local Non-
piloted in Karangura sub county Kabarole Government Organization operating in
district. Kasese district is working to improve the
lives of the young women by empowering
Kaana Foundation a local Non- them with non-formal skills and educates
government Organization based in the them about their reproductive health and
Rwenzori region runs a “girl child accessing rights.
school” programme in the Rwenzori region.
This program is all inclusive as the Several other civil society organizations and
community is mobilized, teachers are Non-Government Organizations in Uganda
motivated, and the school administration is commemorate special days for children
encouraged to make routine monitoring of especially girls – Day of African Child
the girls that enroll in their schools until (DAC) commemorated every 16th June of
completion. The school children are also every year, International Day of the Girl
involved in the activities of the program. Child commemorated every 11th October of
every year with educative and advocacy programme focuses on the national priority
themes. Mass sensitization activities about of improved water and sanitation coverage
violence against children and in particular in schools and girls’ school enrollment and
child marriage are organized. reduced dropout rates. As a result of GEM
in action, schools are increasingly providing
In western Uganda 2013, Save the children special facilities for girls such as, separate
Uganda mobilized other Non-Government latrines, bathrooms and sanitary materials
Organizations operating in the Rwenzori for use especially during menstruation
region such as World Vision to periods, and are cleaner and safer with
commemorate the Day of African Child with availability of water and soap to wash hands,
a theme “Eliminating harmful social and and there are more open discussions of
cultural practices affecting children, our hygiene, sexuality, maturation, and
collective responsibility”. The function was HIV/AIDS. H
held in Bundibugyo district where the
practice is reported to be high. Other local The government recently allowed schools to
Non-Government Organizations and CBOs use part of the Universal Primary Education
organize the same functions in their funds to support GEM.
respective operational areas with the aim of
rising awareness about the dangers of child The Ministry of Education and Sports in
marriage and other violence against children partnership with other NGOs launched a
related cases. campaign dubbed “Go back to school” stay
in school, and complete” in schools around
UNICEF introduced Girls Education the country in 2007. This is aimed at
Movement (GEM) spearheaded by the supporting school drop out children
Ministry of Education and Sports in 2001 in especially girls to go back to school, stay in
all the primary schools in Uganda. school and complete the primary cycle.
Girl’s Education Movement (GEM) is a Activities included advocacy, community
child-centered, girl-led global movement of mobilization and sensitization of stake
children and young people whose goal is to holders, introduction of bylaws making
bring about positive social transformation by primary education compulsory by making
empowering girls through education. The parents send their children to school,
promoting sports and games in schools According to the Convention on the
among others. Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women
Also raising awareness on human rights is (CEDAW), the most comprehensive
being done along side child support international bill of rights for women, states
programmes in schools and communities. that any betrothal or marriage of a child
should not have any legal status. The
At national level the Girls Not Brides Committee that monitors this convention
Uganda (GNBU) alliance has been formed states further in General Recommendation
to campaign against child, early and forced 21 (Article 16(2)) that the minimum age for
marriage. This is done through partnering marriage for both male and female should be
and networking with other Non-government 18 years, the age when “they have attained
organizations with similar agenda to run full maturity and capacity to act”.
programmes that aim at eliminating the Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for
practice. Therefore, there is need to widen Marriage and Registration of Marriages,
the scope and interventions of Girls Not 1964 Article 2, States Parties to the present
Brides network to be able to reach out to the Convention shall specify a minimum age for
needy communities through research, marriage ("not less than 15 years" according
coordination, and advocacy activities in to the nonbinding recommendation
districts with the highest prevalence of the accompanying this Convention). No
vice. marriage shall be legally entered into by any
person under this age, except where a
Legal framework competent authority has granted a
dispensation as to age, for serious reasons,
According to 1995 Constitution of Uganda in the interests of the intending spouses.
article 31. (1) Men and women of the age of
African Charter on the Rights and
eighteen years and above, have the right to
Welfare of the Child, 1990 Article XXI,
marry and to found a family and are entitled
Child marriage and the betrothal of girls and
to equal rights in marriage, during marriage
boys shall be prohibited and effective action,
and at its dissolution.
including legislation, shall be taken to
specify the minimum age of marriage to be Further studies indicate that, about 67% of
eighteen years. Ugandans are either poor or highly
vulnerable to poverty, the expenditure
Challenges for effective implementation
review for Uganda 2012 by the Directorate
of the policies and programmes.
of Social Protection in the gender ministry
has revealed. 67% represented both
It is a common phenomenon in Uganda that,
Ugandans who spend below the poverty line
the policies, bylaws and programmes made
of $ 1.20 (about sh3, 170) per day and those
by local governments remains on paper.
who are below twice the poverty line, $2.40
Most local government structures and some
(about sh6, 340) per day.
Non-government organizations facilitate
workshops and retreats for policy making Where poverty is cute, a young girl may be
and do not facilitate the implementation regarded as an economic burden where one
processes. Policies and bylaws remain not less daughter is one less mouth to feed
known to the local communities and this (UNICEF 2001, Forum on marriage and the
escalates the problem. For instance, most rights of women and Girls 2001; Mathur
local people do not know the laws in the 2003 and Nour 2006).
constitution of Uganda because it was not
translated in their local languages for those Parents encourage the marriage of their
who can read. daughters while they are still children in
hope that the marriage will benefit them
Economic survival strategies:
both financially and socially, while also
relieving financial burdens on the family.
The high levels of poverty in Uganda have
contributed to the persistent vice of child
Additionally, poor families tend to marry off
marriage. According to the United Nation’s
girls at the same time to help reduce the
Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA),
burden of high marriage ceremony expenses.
Uganda currently has 34.5 million people,
about 23.1 million are prone to poverty, and
Traditional beliefs:
about 8.4 million of them (about 24.5%) are
trapped in absolute poverty.
The marriage to a much older – sometimes often result in ridicule, disapproval or family
even elderly – man is a practice common in shame. Invariably, local perceptions on the
some societies. In traditional societies in ideal age for marriage, the desire for
Uganda, a man is given another wife (a submissive wives, extended family patterns
sister to the first wife) from the same family and other customary requirements, are all
if the first one is dead or disabled. In the enshrined in local customs or religious
case of a girl in Rwebisengo Sub county norms. In many contexts child marriage is
Ntoroko district is one of many cases of girls legitimized by patriarchy, and related family
who are married off at a very young age due structures, which ensure that marriage
to traditions. In 2011, a thirteen-year-old transfers a father’s role over his girl child to
girl’s secondary education was terminated her future spouse. The marriage or betrothal
and married off to a 40-year-old man in of children in some parts of Uganda is
order for the family to maintain traditional valued as a means of consolidating powerful
ties. The previous wife of the man had died relations between families, for sealing deals
of AIDS! This was in arrangement with the over land or other property, or even for
local leaders and girl’s parents. settling disputes (UNIFPA, 2006).

In other traditional societies – where infant Value of virginity and protection of young
mortality was very high and survival girls
depended on a family’s ability to produce its Early marriage is one way to ensure that a
own food or goods for sale – child marriage wife is protected, or placed firmly under
helped to maximize the number of male control; that she is submissive to her
pregnancies and ensure enough surviving husband and works hard for her in-laws’
children to meet household labour needs household; that the children she bears are
(Mathur 2003). legitimate, (UNICEF 2001; Mathur, 2003
and Nour 2006). On the other hand, for
Socio-cultural and religious values many societies that prize virginity before
marriage, early marriage can manifest itself
In communities where child marriage is in a number of practices designed to
prevalent, there is strong social pressure on ‘protect’ a girl from unsanctioned sexual
families to conform. Failure to conform can activity. In the eastern and north eastern
parts of Uganda, control may also include than girls with zero to three years of school
the practice of female genital mutilation (NRC/IOM 2005).
(FGM) to restrict sexual pleasure and
temptation. Some parents withdraw their Education is widely credited as the most
girls from school as soon as they begin to significant factor for delaying girls’ age at
menstruate; fearing that exposure to male marriage (Mathur, Greene and Malhotra
pupils or teachers puts them at risk. 2003; United Nations Commission on
These practices are all intended to shield the Population and Development 2002). Over
girl from male sexual attention, but in the the last several decades, parents have come
eyes of concerned parents, marriage is seen to value education for their children, and to
to offer the ultimate protection measure. be willing to postpone the marriages of their
In Wars and civil conflicts parents or careers daughters so they can attain a higher
resort to child marriage as a protective education level (Schuler et al.
mechanism or survival strategy. Displaced 2006). It is thought that education enhances
populations living in refugee camps may girls’ autonomy, giving them negotiation
feel unable to protect their daughters from skills in choosing a partner and influencing
rape, and so marriage to a warlord or other the timing of marriage (Lloyd and Mensch
authority figure may provide improved 1999; NRC/IOM 2005). Education also is
protection. For the young girls orphans or believed to increase girls’ aspirations and
separated with their parents or relatives the extend the process of finding a suitable
only way to survive and to get protection is marriage partner (Lloyd and Mensch 1999).
to get married, (De Smedt 1998).
More studies have shown the important role
The most effective strategy for that education must play in efforts to
overcoming child marriage eliminate child marriage. Research by
Studies strongly show that higher levels of UNICEF shows that the more education a
schooling for girls decrease their risk of girl receives, the less likely she is to be
child marriage (NRC/IOM 2005; UNICEF married as a child. Improving access to
2005). Girls with eight or more years of education and eliminating gender gaps in
education are less likely to marry young education are therefore important strategies
for ending the practice of child marriage.
 including government, civil society
organizations, Non-government
Recommendations
organizations, Faith Based
organizations and Community Based
 As child marriage is common among
organizations. Therefore, networks,
illiterates and marginalized groups,
coordination and collaboration of all
community networks and vigilant
different stake holders and
groups comprising all concerned
organizations from community to
stake holders can be formed and
national level should be
mobilized to intervene in
strengthened.
programmes to end child marriage.

 There is urgency need to roll out the

 Empower the youth to manage their
policies, bylaws, programmes and
sexual and reproductive issues
strengthen the linkage between the
through different approaches i.e.
lower local governments at the
peer-to-peer approach,
village level to district level to
comprehensive sexuality education
revamp and enforce them for the
in schools, life skills based
protection of children from all forms
education, youth information centers.
of abuse and exploitation.

 Child marriage is a worst form of  There is also need to strengthen

Gender-based violence, programmes networking, operationalisation,
such as “go back to school” focusing systematic documentation, referral
on enrolling and retaining girls in mechanism and follow up on the
schools until they complete and cases of abuse, improved
attain quality learning outcomes coordination among key actors and
should be maintained among advocates for protection of children.
communities.
 The government and other
 Ending child marriage requires
organizations should put emphasis
consolidated efforts of all
on supporting schools with scholastic
organizations and stake holders
 materials; carry out refresher  mobilizing girls, boys, parents and
trainings for teachers and other leaders to change practices that
progrmmes that create conducive discriminate against girls and to
learning environment for the create social, economic, and civic
retention of girls in schools. opportunities for girls and young
 Government should implement a women
comprehensive national school  providing girls who are already
feeding programme to improve married with options for schooling,
primary school enrolment and employment and livelihood skills,
regular attendance and reduce sexual and reproductive health
dropout rates. information and services (including
HIV prevention), and offering
recourse from violence in the home;

 Mothers are said to be more

supportive to their daughters
compared to fathers. The  Addressing the root causes of child
government should support women marriage, including poverty, gender
enterprise development programmes, inequality and discrimination, the
by establishing of a targeted fund for low value placed on girls and
women to address credit access violence against girls.
constraints so that they can support
REFERENCES
education of their daughters.
1. 1995 constitution of Uganda
 Increase support for Universal
2. Voices of Child Brides and
Primary and Secondary Education to
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