Over 300 Bushenyi Teens Impregnated In Three Months

Posted by: Kyeyune Andrew Jonathan in Uganda news June 20, 2023

At least 330 teenage pregnancies have been registered in health facilities in Bushenyi for the past three months. The pregnant girls are between the age of 15 and 17 and most are residents of Kyamuhanga Sub-county. Others are from areas of Kakanju, Ruhumuro, and Engaju.

Dr Edward Mwesigye, the District Health Officer said these pregnancies were recorded in the first quarter of 2023.

The numbers then slightly went up from 319 cases recorded from October to December 2022. He added saying that the major course of these pregnancies are due to neglect and parents failing to provide basic needs.

“Men who are supposed to be heads of families have left their responsibilities to women who at the end of the day are overburdened and can’t provide all that is required,” he said.

He added that with such a situation in homes, girls drop out of schools and land into hands of selfish people like boda boda riders and drug users. These promise to give the young girls money and in the end impregnate them.

“With their little education and knowledge about reproductive health, girls end up getting pregnant by irresponsible men who can’t take care of them and the trend continues,” he added.

To make matters worse, Dr Mwesigye said teenage mothers do not usually go for antenatal care. This leaves them unprepared for safe delivery.

Mr. Aggrey Kakembo, the District Probation Officer said most of these cases are considered defilement cases. He said if caught, they can attract lenient sentences.

He also revealed that parents usually prefer to collect money from the perpetrators and hide their identity.

In other cases, he said they let the boy’s parents take responsibility of raising the baby and taking care of the girl rather than pursuing a court case. Mr Kakembo called for mass sensitization and urged the government to strengthen laws against such cases.

In September 2022, the Mbarara High Court Circuit held a special session on Sexual and Gender-based Violence for greater Bushenyi. 48 of the 61 cases handled were for aggregated defilement.

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