Girls Not Brides Uganda (GNBU) has called for renewed commitment and stronger multisectoral collaboration in the fight against child marriage and teenage pregnancy as stakeholders gathered to validate findings from a rapid assessment of the National Strategy to End Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy. The meeting, held at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, featured Joyce Nakato, GNBU Co-Chair and Team Leader at the Uganda Youth and Adolescents Health Forum (UYAHF), who highlighted the assessment’s role in evaluating progress under the strategy’s nine key pillars. Nakato emphasized that addressing these issues requires coordinated action across sectors rather than isolated interventions, stating, “The rapid assessment before us today is not merely a review; it is a mirror held up to our collective efforts.” The validation process, led by Dr. Azah, aimed to identify gaps and generate recommendations to guide Uganda’s next phase of action. Nakato acknowledged the Ministry’s partnership, particularly crediting Lydia Wasula and GNBU Coordinator Ahmed Kibirige for organizing the event. She underscored that child marriage and teenage pregnancy continue to hinder girls’ empowerment and Uganda’s social and economic development, urging stakeholders to center girls’ voices in policy and program implementation. “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children,” she quoted former South African President Nelson Mandela, reinforcing the urgency of prioritizing girls’ protection and wellbeing. The meeting brought together government officials, development partners, and civil society actors to review the assessment findings and prioritize actions for strengthening efforts to end child marriage and teenage pregnancy. Nakato called on policymakers, civil society, and institutions to critically examine the results and provide practical recommendations to sustain and accelerate progress. She noted that as Uganda transitions to a new development planning framework, “the gains achieved under this strategy must be sustained and accelerated so that every girl has the opportunity to thrive free from child marriage and teenage pregnancy.” The rapid assessment, conducted by Dr. Azah, follows a year-long implementation of the national strategy, which seeks to address systemic barriers through cross-sectoral collaboration. GNBU’s advocacy aligns with broader regional and global efforts to protect girls’ rights, with Nakato stressing that “coordinated action is not optional but essential” to achieving lasting change. The findings are expected to inform future interventions and policy reforms aimed at reducing the prevalence of child marriage and teenage pregnancy in Uganda.
GNBU Urges Strengthened Collaboration to Combat Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy in Uganda
The validation meeting, convened by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, highlighted the critical need for sustained investment in programs targeting child marriage and teenage pregnancy. Joyce Nakato, speaking on behalf of GNBU, emphasized that the assessment’s recommendations must translate into actionable policies to address persistent challenges. She noted that while progress has been made, “gaps remain in implementation, particularly in rural areas where cultural and economic factors perpetuate these practices.” Nakato called for increased funding and community engagement to ensure the strategy’s objectives are met, urging stakeholders to “move beyond rhetoric and commit to measurable outcomes.” The event also featured discussions on integrating adolescent health services and improving data collection to better monitor progress. With the strategy’s final year of implementation underway, the meeting underscored the importance of accountability and transparency in achieving long-term impact.
Government officials and civil society representatives expressed support for GNBU’s call to action, with Lydia Wasula, a Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development representative, stating that “the findings will inform our next steps in aligning national policies with the needs of girls and communities.” Development partners, including international organizations, pledged to strengthen their collaboration with local actors to scale effective interventions. Meanwhile, the assessment’s emphasis on evidence-based approaches has prompted calls for greater investment in research and monitoring mechanisms. As Uganda prepares for its next development planning cycle, the dialogue highlighted the necessity of embedding gender equality and adolescent empowerment into all sectors of policy and programming.
The National Strategy to End Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy, launched in 2022, aims to reduce the prevalence of these issues through a framework of nine key pillars, including education, healthcare, and legal reforms. However, implementation challenges, such as limited resources and entrenched societal norms, have slowed progress. GNBU’s rapid assessment, conducted by Dr. Azah, identified these obstacles and proposed targeted solutions, including expanding access to reproductive health services and strengthening legal protections for girls. Nakato reiterated that “without sustained political will and community engagement, the strategy’s goals will remain unmet.” The meeting concluded with a commitment to prioritize the assessment’s recommendations in upcoming policy discussions, ensuring that the voices of girls and affected communities remain central to decision-making processes.
The call for renewed action comes amid rising concerns over the long-term impacts of child marriage and teenage pregnancy on Uganda’s development. Studies show that early marriages often lead to limited educational opportunities, health risks, and economic instability for girls, perpetuating cycles of poverty. GNBU’s advocacy aligns with global initiatives to protect girls’ rights, with Nakato stressing that “every girl deserves the chance to reach her full potential without the burden of early marriage or pregnancy.” As the strategy enters its final phase, stakeholders agreed that collaboration, transparency, and a focus on grassroots solutions will be critical to achieving meaningful change. The validation meeting marked a pivotal step in ensuring that Uganda’s efforts to end these practices remain on track, with all parties committed to advancing the cause of girls’ empowerment and gender equality.
In addition to the policy and programmatic focus, the meeting addressed the role of media and public awareness in challenging harmful norms. Nakato encouraged journalists and civil society to amplify the stories of girls affected by child marriage and teenage pregnancy, arguing that “public discourse shapes societal attitudes and drives accountability.” She also called for greater transparency in reporting on the strategy’s implementation, urging stakeholders to share progress and challenges openly. The discussion highlighted the importance of involving boys and men in the conversation, as cultural shifts require collective responsibility. With the assessment’s findings now in hand, the next steps will involve drafting a comprehensive action plan, securing funding, and ensuring that all sectors of government and society contribute to the fight against child marriage and teenage pregnancy.