The World Vision Report 2013 indicated that 47% of Ugandan girls are married off before they attain 18 years. Divided into regions; Busoga is among the most affected and the World Vision Report supported by UNICEF attributed the problem to poverty levels. Buloba Sub County in Kamuli district is where we found Erisa David a local leader addressing these community members about the need to end early child marriages. Many of these people raised their concerns about how Police has failed them during the struggle to curb the vice. Local leaders, Erisa David and Ibrahim Nsubuga accused Police of abetting the crime. “We handover culprits to Police but after taking bribes they are released.” Said, Erisa David – Community Leader.
It is at this point that issues of birth certificate forgery and gender inequality were also raised. However, all hope was not lost as Joy for Children in partnership with PLAN International trained girls in districts of Kamuli and Tororo to build confidence in their peers under the Girl Advocacy Campaign. “This effort has really seen a lot of achievement in terms of these girls reaching out to more girls in rural areas that is Tororo and Kamuli to ensure they are taught about their rights and also the need to keep and end child marriage.” Said, Erinah Kahunda – Advocacy Manager, JFC.
The girls under GAA said they have motivated their colleagues not only to engage in income generating activities but also in community dialogues. “The way that thing helps them is when we all be together. Some of them forget that they are supposed to meet their boyfriends. We are together and we practice that thing for those ones who are not yet married. But with these ones like me, I take most of my time in that thing; in the bungle making, the bags. I also forget those problems that I faced.” Said, Adiye Jessica – GAA Member. District officials and community members converged here to share ideas on how they can end early child marriages. They believe that such dialogues will help improve the situation at stake.
