Health 10 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Urgent Action Needed to Combat Rising Teenage Pregnancies in Busoga
A recent health report highlights alarming rates of teenage pregnancies in the Busoga sub-region, with hundreds of girls below 15 seeking antenatal care and tens of thousands of adolescents giving birth. This situation underscores the urgent need for intensified community-level interventions to keep young girls in school and address the root causes of early childbearing. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/editorial/continue-fight-against-teenage-pregnancy-5591330
The Busoga sub-region is facing a critical challenge as indicated by the 2025/2026 Joint Health Sector Performance Review. The report revealed that 419 girls under the age of 15 registered for antenatal care, while a staggering 27,528 adolescents aged 15-19 gave birth in health facilities during the same period.
Namayingo District reported the highest number of adolescent births, accounting for 25 percent of the total. Among girls younger than 15, health facilities recorded 1,275 deliveries, with Buyende District showing the highest proportion at 2.3 percent. Mayuge, Buyende, and Bugiri districts also registered significant numbers of pregnancies among girls under 15.
These figures are deeply concerning and demand immediate attention. Minister for the Presidency Milly Babalanda rightly urged health workers and local leaders to strengthen community-level interventions addressing the social and economic factors driving these outcomes. The current statistics should not be met with complacency; instead, they must spur renewed efforts.
Most of these young mothers will not be returning to school, highlighting a critical failure in supporting our learners. As Uganda strives for quality education, the issue of teenage pregnancies, which disrupts educational journeys, remains a persistent burden. A continuous, accelerated fight against the factors fueling early pregnancy is essential.
Fifteen-year-olds should be in classrooms, not attending antenatal appointments. They deserve the chance to complete their education and compete effectively in life. It is imperative that we all commit to keeping learners in school by supporting initiatives that prevent early pregnancies and address the underlying societal issues.
This fight may be long, but it is a battle worth winning. Sustained efforts and strategic interventions are crucial to seeing improved outcomes in future health reviews. We must all do our part to ensure a brighter future for Uganda’s young girls.