Child prostitution fuels teenage pregnancies in slums

Child prostitution, caused by the dire poverty in Kampala’s slums, is largely blamed for the increase in the number of child mothers.

Mr Edward Kizza, Chairman of Ssebagala Zone, Kawempe Division, acknowledged that girls aged 12 and above engage in sex work for survival, which can lead to pregnancy at a young age.

“Poverty, diseases and ignorance are a big problem here. Some girls are lured into sex in exchange for a piece of chicken or food. That is why we have a large number of child mothers in such areas,” Mr Kizza said during the launch of a skills programme for teenage mothers in Ssebagala Zone, Kawempe Division on Saturday.

The program, led by High Sound for Children, will teach more than 50 child mothers skills in sewing, hair care and entrepreneurship.

Mr Kizza welcomed the project and said vulnerable girls, including those living in slums, should be provided with skills and economic empowerment to protect them from sexual exploitation.

Ms Hadija Namwanje, Founder of High Sound for Children, noted that child pregnancy is a manifestation of sexual violence and appealed to the local government to identify the perpetrators.

“Child pregnancy is a manifestation of sexual violence. I appeal to local leaders to identify perpetrators of violence so that they can be arrested and brought to justice,” she said.

According to Uganda’s National Strategy to End Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy, one in five women has sexual activity before the age of 15, and Uganda ranks 16th globally in child marriage rates. Teenage pregnancy accounts for 22.3 percent of school dropouts among girls aged 14 to 18.

Ms Annabelle Sebakijje Nakabiri, Executive Director of The Remnant Generation, highlighted the growing burden of commercial sexual exploitation fuelled by poverty and challenged teenage mothers to remain focused on improving themselves and their children.

“Change starts with you. It doesn’t matter how old you are. You can still stand up and let your children have a different story. We can end the cycle of abuse and poverty,” she said.

Residents and local leaders stressed the need for concerted efforts to address child prostitution and sexual violence, including involving boys and men in empowerment programs and providing support to organizations working in the area.