Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah has tasked leaders in Omoro district to prepare by-laws that will penalize parents who remove their daughters from school and marry them off.
His call came as he addressed parents during the launch of a free meningitis immunisation drive at Omoro district headquarters recently. Oulanyah said parents that marry off their daughters who are as young as eight years and deny them education should be arrested for denying the girls their rights to education.
“It is unfortunate that instead of girls going to class, they are going into maternity wards … to give birth to children of adults,” Oulanyah said.
“Impregnating young girls means that they are going to remain poor forever; so, leaders please work on laws to keep the girls in school.”
Oulanyah, who is also the area member of parliament, informed parents that they had more to benefit from keeping children in school.
“An educated girl is an economically-empowered one; if you let them marry so young, you will be burying them in poverty, and that is not what this region wants,” he added.
Northern Uganda has a high school drop-out rate for girls, with various reports indicating a lack of interest in studies, early pregnancies, early marriages and family responsibilities, as the main drivers of this problem.
The immunisation campaign that started on January 19 and is concluding on January 23, is targeting children in 39 high-risk districts including Abim, Moyo, Nakapiripirit, Adjumani, Agago, Yumbe, Zombo, Alebtong, Amolator, Amudat, Amuria, Amuru, Kitgum, Koboko, Kole, Kotido, Apac, Arua, Buliisa, Dokolo, Gulu, Hoima Kaabong and Kaberamaido.
Other districts where the campaign is underway include Katakwi, Kiryandongo, Lamwo, Lira, Maracha, Masindi, Moroto, Napak, Nebbi, Nwoya, Omoro, Otuke, Oyam, Pader and Soroti.
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