Uganda: Over 78% of Teenage Girls Have Had Sexual Intercourse

GATEOFWISE.COM

A new health status report from Uganda has revealed that 78% of girls under the age of 19, most of them still in school, have had sexual intercourse for the first time raising concerns over the rising rates of teenage pregnancies.

Aggrey Kiyingi Kabenge, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, said the problem worsened during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Kabenge stressed that the issue is alarming and requires urgent national action:

“We cannot ignore it. This is a real problem. We are working closely with the UN, particularly on its adolescent-focused programs. We are also calling on faith-based organizations to support us, and even the First Lady is playing a key role in campaigns against early pregnancies.”

The rise in cases is linked to extreme poverty, increasing engagement in sexual activity among youth, the breakdown of family structures, and declining moral values.

Recently, the Director of Partnerships at Marie Stopes one of the largest providers of reproductive health services in Uganda said they have recorded a sharp rise in the number of children heading households.

The regions most affected include Tooro, Busoga, Rwenzururu, Acholi, Lango, West Nile, and areas hosting refugee populations.

Officials warn that unless action is taken, the situation could deteriorate further, as 78% of under-19 girls—many still in school have already had their first sexual encounter.

One major challenge is that these girls lack access to family planning services, unlike their married peers, who are eligible for such programs.