Kyabazinga rallies Busoga leaders to combat high teenage pregnancy, school dropouts

The Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Nadiope Gabula IV, has rallied local government leaders, law enforcement officers, and development partners across the sub-region to unite against escalating rates of teenage pregnancy, school dropouts, and widespread poverty.

Speaking on Friday at Igenge Palace in Jinja during a high-level stakeholder meeting, the Kyabazinga urged officials to take collective responsibility for reversing the socio-economic setbacks stalling the region's development.

The meeting was convened to mobilize regional support for the newly launched Busoga Regional Multisectoral Framework 2026–2030. The strategy places the fight against teenage pregnancy at the core of regional development, focusing on improving reproductive health services for learners, keeping children in school, promoting food security, tackling gender-based violence (GBV), and boosting household incomes.

Addressing Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), district chairpersons (LCVs), police commanders, and health and education officers, the monarch emphasized that saving the youth requires an all-hands-on-deck approach.

“I am happy you have honoured my invitation and come in large numbers to respond to the fight against teenage pregnancy in the region, as addressing the challenges facing our region is everyone’s responsibility,” the Kyabazinga said.

Reflecting on his role as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for engaging men to end teenage pregnancy—a position he has held since 2023—the Kyabazinga explained that extensive consultations across Busoga pointed to a breakdown in family structures as a major root cause.

“The weakening of family support systems and deteriorating parenting standards are growing concerns affecting our communities both locally and globally. Addressing these gaps requires passion, commitment, and a collective shift in mindset,” he noted, calling on local leaders to ensure that high-level commitments translate into tangible outcomes on the ground.

The urgency of the interventions was underscored by figures presented by Mr. James Mukwaya, the Programme Director at the Kyabazinga Initiative (KI). Citing official data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics for 2024–2025, Mr. Mukwaya revealed that monetary poverty in Busoga stands at 18.9 percent, while the region’s teenage pregnancy rate has climbed to 28.4 percent—well above the national average of 24.5 percent.

Furthermore, youth unemployment in the region has reached alarming levels.

“Our findings indicate that 60.9 percent of young people in Busoga are currently not in employment, education, or training, compared to the national figure of 42.6 percent. These challenges stem primarily from parental negligence, deep-seated poverty, weak leadership, risky social behaviors, and development programs implemented in isolation by different stakeholders,” Mr. Mukwaya said.

Representing international development partners, Ms. Laura Lafuente Criado, Programme Coordinator for Gender and Youth at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), praised the Multisectoral Framework as a crucial commitment toward safeguarding young people. She warned, however, that uncoordinated efforts in health, justice, and education have historically undermined progress.

“Fragmented interventions across health, education, justice, and child protection institutions have previously weakened efforts to address the region’s challenges,” Ms. Criado said. “We would like you, the district leaders, to translate your commitments into local ordinances and budget allocations while ensuring that offenders who abuse children face justice without compromise.”

Sharing success stories from ongoing grassroots interventions, the Executive Director of the Kyabazinga Initiative, Ms. Yudaya Babirye, highlighted how community sensitization and targeted economic empowerment are producing results.

“Quarterly reports from Kamuli District indicate that teenage pregnancy has declined from 28 percent to 19 percent, a progress largely driven by proactive local leadership and the intentional involvement of men and boys in community interventions,” Ms. Babirye said.

She added that over the past two years, the organization has equipped 40,000 young people—including teenage mothers—with practical vocational skills to help them gain financial independence. “Empowering young people with practical skills and involving entire communities in prevention efforts remain essential to dismantling the underlying drivers of teenage pregnancy.”

Contributing to the strategy, Mr. Hamis Mugendawala, Director of Population and Social Development Planning at the National Planning Authority (NPA), stressed that long-term progress will depend on keeping children in school and strengthening household livelihoods.

Reaffirming the commitment of security agencies, Kiira Regional Police Commander Mr. Charles Nsaba assured leaders that law enforcement would step up vigilance to protect minors.

“The police will work closely with all relevant stakeholders to enforce laws protecting children’s rights, ensure that perpetrators of abuse are held accountable, and protect vulnerable children from exploitation and violence,” Mr. Nsaba pledged.