Imagine being 14 years old again, filled with dreams and hopes for the future. But instead of chasing those dreams, you’re faced with the nightmare of forced marriage.
In Uganda’s Kabarole district, a young girl in Primary Five is trapped in a situation where she should be enjoying childhood, but instead, she’s being pushed into marriage.
Police in Hakibale sub-county, along with the Kabarole Resident District Commissioner (RDC), have stepped in to rescue this 14-year-old girl from her stepfather’s home in Nkambo village.
According to RDC Festus Bandeeba, they received information from the Faridah Monica Foundation Uganda, located at Kiburara trading center. The foundation reported that one of their beneficiaries, a 14-year-old girl, had been forced into marriage by her stepfather after he chased away her mother.
Faridah Kabategeki, CEO of the foundation, revealed that they had been paying the girl’s school fees at Kiburara Primary School. When the girl’s biological mother reported the situation, Kabategeki alerted the RDC’s office for assistance.
Richard Muhindo, head of the Hakibale sub-county Police, confirmed that the girl has been placed under the care of her foundation. Meanwhile, they’re searching for the stepfather, Ismail Mugume, to face charges of defilement in court.
Clovis Kateeba, Mugume’s father, expressed his support for the police in arresting his son.
In Kabarole district, early marriages lead to high rates of school dropouts, particularly in areas like Hakibale, Kasenda, Kicwamba, Karangura, and Mugusu sub-counties.
Forced marriages not only steal childhoods but also inflict lasting trauma and suffering. These girls are robbed of their right to education and are thrust into adult responsibilities against their will, denying them the opportunity to choose their own paths in life.
