Child marriage remains a highly persistent challenge in Uganda. Approximately 34% of girls in Uganda enter unions before the age of 18 while 7% marry before the age of 15. 40% of the girls in rural areas marry in childhood compared to 21% in urban areas. While the minimum legal age of marriage is 18, harmful traditional norms, extreme poverty, and high teenage pregnancy rates continue to drive the practice, particularly in rural and in the Eastern regions of Uganda.
Traditional harmful norms like the concept of 'luk' among the Lango and the commodification of women (Omutwalo/Ensimbi) are some of the leading drivers coercing young girls into marriage; many times abusive marriages in exchange of bride price to their parents. If a woman proposes to leave the marriage, her natal family is pressured to return the bride price. Because many poor families have drained the bride price, the young woman is tied into the abusive marriage.
We work with the Government of Uganda in the implementation of the National Strategy to End Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy 2022/23 to 2026 - 27) to criminalize rituals that marry off girls at puberty. We will engage and train local leaders (traditional, cultural, and religious leaders) in West Nile, Karamoja, and Rwenzori regions) to lead community dialogues aimed at officially disowning rituals which transition girls from puberty to marriage.
1. As elder and male allies reject traditional norms driving early child marriage, a new norm will be established and future generations will view girls as students and economic contributors rather than commodities ready for marriage. 2. By keeping girls out of forced marriage, we will certainly reduce the rate of intimate partner violence and abuse. 3. This project will reduce maternal and child mortality rates which are a result of complications from early pregnancy by teenage girls.
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