Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - December 27, 2006
The age of consent may be debatable but the negative effects of early marriages are not. At 32%, Uganda has one of the highest rates of early marriages in Africa. This comes with the anti-developmental consequences of high maternal mortality rates, high infant deaths, high school drop-out rates and poorer quality of life.
In addition, the age of first marriage is crucial in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The UN stipulates that raising the age of first sex is key to preventing new HIV infections. In view of all this and the new National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS, Government will have to come out strongly to address the issue of early marriages and sex before the age of 15.
By making Universal Primary Education free and compulsory, Government has indeed put in place a structure to delay marriages up to 14 years. Very soon Universal Post-Primary Education and Training will be free and it will theoretically be possible for every child to be in school up to the age of 17.
However, fighting deep-rooted cultural distortions like child marriage is everybody's responsibility. Police was able to disrupt the 14-year-old girl's forced marriage in Katakwi because they were notified by the girl's brother.
Without community support and policing, the formal education structures may not positively impact on the age of marriage.
Joint community efforts can help combat early marriages or the spread of HIV/AIDS. Civic organisations should emulate Terrewode, Muvule Trust and Straight Talk, who have collaborated to sensitise girls and teachers in eastern Uganda on the dangers of child marriages. Such efforts should not leave out local leaders, parents, Police and other law enforcement officers.
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