Single teenage mothers in Mayuge District are facing economic hardships and turning to work as casual laborers in sugarcane plantations to support themselves and their children. The majority are engaged in physically demanding tasks such as transporting, cutting, loading, and lifting sugarcane, traditionally considered roles for men.
Mayuge, part of Busoga Sub-region, is home to thriving sugarcane cultivation, with several millers operating in the area, including Kakira Sugar Limited, Kaliro Sugar Company, Mayuge Sugar Industries Limited, Bugiri Sugar Company Limited, and Kamuli Sugar Limited.
Fatuma Nasali, a 17-year-old teenage mother residing in Bubambwe Village, shared her struggles, citing the necessity to work in sugarcane plantations due to her husband’s inability to provide for their family. She earns between Shs300 and Shs1,000 for each bundle of sugarcane, depending on the distance she transports them.
Roy Kisakye, 18, became a mother at 16 while in Primary Seven, and with the responsible man disappearing, she turned to casual labor in sugarcane fields. Her earnings range from Shs20,000 for weeding an acre to Shs1,000 to Shs2,000 for cutting and transporting a bundle of sugarcane.
Alice Musazi, another teenage mother in Mayuge, expressed the challenges of meeting basic needs for her two children, leading her to take on various jobs, including transporting sugarcane and working in gardens. The lack of well-paying jobs due to limited skills and academic credentials adds to their difficulties.
Faizal Baliruno, a sugarcane farmer in Mayuge, highlighted that many of the teenage mothers lack financial stability, and some of the fathers of their children are not supportive. Teen mothers, often working with their babies due to childcare challenges, can earn between Shs4,000 and Shs5,000 per day, depending on the tasks performed.
Mayuge’s struggle with teenage pregnancies is part of a broader issue in Uganda, where adolescents make up a quarter of the population. Factors contributing to the challenges faced by young people include poverty, HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence.
Busoga Sub-region, particularly districts like Kamuli and Mayuge, has consistently topped the list of teenage pregnancies, as reported by the United Nations Fund for Population activities and the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. The economic vulnerability of these teen mothers underscores the need for comprehensive support and interventions to address the root causes of the challenges they face.
