When Christine started talking to young
people at the youth debate on teenage pregnancy at UMA show ground last
week, many people were half asleep after long speeches.
Then she said the words that jolted everyone back to reality and put teenage pregnancy right back at the centre of the debate.
And yet Christine's situation is not unique. According to POPSEC Acting Director Charles Zirarema, nearly half of teenage girls in the country have had their first child by their 19th birthday. The revelation sent many young people calling leaders to end teenage pregnancy in Uganda.
Racheal Akidu, from Comprehensive College Kitetikka, said that the decline in moral standards was driving young boys and girls into early sex.
"Parents just pay school fees, take them to school and leave them there. They do not ask the daughter if they have boyfriends and leave them to peer pressure," Akidu said.
UNFPA Program Director Prossy Nakanjako weighed in with a message for young people: "Getting pregnant is every young girl's nightmare and getting a girl pregnant is every young boy's nightmare ...Unfortunately some of our friends are growing up much faster, becoming mothers before they are ready."
The debate came at the end of an essay writing competition, organised by UNFPA, POPSEC and Straight Talk Foundation for youth. The competition was aimed at getting their views about teenage pregnancy.
Eight winners were selected from 524 entries.
"One of the ways we can be effective in fighting against teenage pregnancy is if young people are supported to make their voices heard," Zirarema said.
Then she said the words that jolted everyone back to reality and put teenage pregnancy right back at the centre of the debate.
The debate reflects the organisers' conviction that it is important for teenagers to access age-appropriate sexuality education and to speak out on issues that affect them. Now 21, Christine sought the help of Wakisa Ministries, which helps teenagers like her, and went back to school. She has just joined university."I was raped when I was 13 years old. My father had died and my step father tried to rape me. I ran away to work as a house girl but my boss raped me. I got pregnant and gave birth at that age. It is not easy being a young mum," Christine said at the event, organised by the UN Population Fund, the Population Secretariat and Straight Talk Foundation.
And yet Christine's situation is not unique. According to POPSEC Acting Director Charles Zirarema, nearly half of teenage girls in the country have had their first child by their 19th birthday. The revelation sent many young people calling leaders to end teenage pregnancy in Uganda.
Racheal Akidu, from Comprehensive College Kitetikka, said that the decline in moral standards was driving young boys and girls into early sex.
"Parents just pay school fees, take them to school and leave them there. They do not ask the daughter if they have boyfriends and leave them to peer pressure," Akidu said.
UNFPA Program Director Prossy Nakanjako weighed in with a message for young people: "Getting pregnant is every young girl's nightmare and getting a girl pregnant is every young boy's nightmare ...Unfortunately some of our friends are growing up much faster, becoming mothers before they are ready."
The debate came at the end of an essay writing competition, organised by UNFPA, POPSEC and Straight Talk Foundation for youth. The competition was aimed at getting their views about teenage pregnancy.
Eight winners were selected from 524 entries.
"One of the ways we can be effective in fighting against teenage pregnancy is if young people are supported to make their voices heard," Zirarema said.
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