CSOs reveal that FGM contributes to early marriages

Civil Society Organizations advocating for women's empowerment reveal that the existence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the Sebei Sub Region has continued to fuel early marriages and Teenage pregnancies.

Speaking at the   Anti-Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy Marathon organized by Action Aid International Uganda Ononge Samuel the Project Officer noted that undergoing FGM makes most young girls feel like they are ready for marriage which leads to early marriages.

“Most of these girls while celebrating at  FGM events, they do their dances and in that process, they are tempted to find themselves into unnecessary sexual relationships leading into teenage pregnancies”, Ononge stated.

He advised parents to ensure that girls are kept in school as a move geared towards preventing the vice.

Ononge stated that men who impregnate young girls are always close friends and relatives urging parents to closely monitor the girl child.

The Member of Parliament for Kween County  Chemonges William who flagged off the marathon called for a communal way of raising children as a move geared towards mitigating early marriages and teenage pregnancies.                   

 Chemonges noted that parents shouldn't focus on only taking care and disciplining their biological children but rather attend to every child, especially girls in society.

He explained  that the communal way of upbringing children may not only help in mitigating early marriages and teenage pregnancies but also  lead to development

Meanwhile, the Marathon was organized in Kween district by ActionAid International Uganda with support from UNFPA.