Masindi parents marry off underage daughters for wealth
The majority of the victims are said to be primary school learners.
By Innocent Atuganyira
Masindi: Leaders and stakeholders in Kimengo subcounty, Masindi district are concerned about the rate at which underage girls are being married off by their parents in the subcounty.
It is alleged that most parents and guardians in the subcounty are marrying off their daughters, aged between 15 and 17, after dropping out of school in a quest for wealth.
The majority of the victims are said to be primary school learners.
The concern was raised recently during a community sensitization engagement on sexual gender-based violence organized by the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) at Kimengo Sub County headquarters.
Happy Kaija Charles, the LC1 Chairperson of Kirwara Kididima village, revealed that some parents in the area withdraw their children from schools and marry them off in order to get wealth, especially cows.
Kaija added that though the vice is not common in his village, it is rampant in the neighboring villages, citing Karangwe.
Geoffrey Kyalisiima, a resident, disclosed that most children who are married off are impregnated in schools, while some are forced into marriage by their parents due to greed for wealth.
He said that most of the affected girls drop out in either primary six or seven. ‘’Most girls who are married are either in primary six or seven; some sit for PLE when they are already pregnant, ’he said.
Oliver Atugonza, a resident of Kididima village, stressed that even when leaders intervene, the matters are sorted out outside court, denying justice to the victims.
‘’When a person from a well-off family impregnates a girl, they settle the matter out of court. So far this year, I know of three incidences where underage children have been married off and their parents have been given dowry by the families of the defilers.’’
Juliet Nyangoma, FOWODE facilitator for Kimengo Sub County, disclosed that they registered about five cases of child marriage in the subcounty in 2023.
She blamed the vice on primitive culture, revealing that some parents and guardians go to the extent of getting men for their school-going children who promise to pay a huge dowry in exchange for the girls.
‘’Most children I have interacted with say they study at risk because their parents, mostly men, exchange them for dowry,’’ she said, noting that most of the affected children are from government-aided primary schools.
Bright Mugume, the LC3 Chairperson for Kimengo Sub County, acknowledges the cases of child marriage in his subcounty but says they are not formally reported to his office.
Mugume said that leaders attend the marriage ceremonies for these children, but they are covered, which makes it hard for them to identify them or their age.
The politician noted that the vice is hampering the government’s efforts to ensure Ugandans get educated since the children who are married never get the chance to study again.
‘’It has also affected the performance of our schools, mostly at the primary level; some of the well-performing children are married off by their parents for wealth,’’ Mugume said.
Moureen Kyomuhendo, the Programs Officer for FOWODE, cited culture and poverty as the main causes of gender-based violence and child marriage in Kimengo Sub County.
‘’Some men stop their wives from working in fear of being engaged in love affairs with workmates. When a man is the breadwinner, the moment he fails to provide, it results in domestic violence,’’ she said.
She disclosed that they have registered 26 cases of gender-based violence in the last six months in Masindi district, noting that the cases are on the rise in the district.
Kyomuhendo said that the purpose of the engagement was to sensitize the community members and stakeholders to sexual gender-based violence and come up with measures to end it.
Records show no case of child marriage has ever been reported at the Kimengo Police post that takes Kimengo Sub County.
Records show that six defilement cases and a similar number of domestic violence cases were reported at the police post last year.
No case of the same nature has been reported at the post since this year began.
Six rape cases, 28 aggravated rape cases, 72 simple defilement cases, and one indecent assault case were reported at Masindi Central Police Station in 2022.
Seven rape cases, 20 aggravated defilement cases, and 39 simple defilement cases were reported at the same police station in 2023.
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