Africa-Press – Uganda. The Yumbe District Council has tabled an eight-page project proposal aimed at tackling teenage pregnancy, one of the major drivers of school dropouts among adolescent girls in the district.
The initiative, developed by Transformation Restoration Initiative (TRI) one of the implementing partners working with both national and refugee communities seeks to strengthen the prevention and management of teenage pregnancies through community-led interventions.
Presenting the proposal before the council, Haruna Alamiga, the Chairperson of the Social Services Committee, said the document outlines practical solutions to help girls stay in school and complete their education.
“Teenage pregnancy continues to hinder school enrolment, retention, and completion among girls in Yumbe. This project provides locally developed solutions that strengthen prevention, management, and support systems for affected learners,” said Alamiga.
Yumbe District Council Speaker Kassim Asiku described the proposal as a vital step in addressing the crisis, noting that it will be reviewed by relevant committees before adoption as a working document for advocacy.
“This is an important document that will help us address the problem of teenage pregnancies,” Asiku said.
Samuel Ochieng, TRI’s Director of Programs, emphasized the need for community ownership of the project.
“Our approach is to strengthen community structures so that the prevention and management of teenage pregnancies are handled sustainably. We believe this project will inspire long-term change,” Ochieng noted.
Otebba Okodoi Cephas, the Education Program Coordinator at TRI, underscored the importance of schools in awareness and mentorship.
“Schools are critical spaces for mentorship and life skills education that empower learners to make informed choices,” he said.
George Opogo, a Program Coordinator at Street Child, called for stronger collaboration between parents, teachers, and community leaders.
“No single institution can address teenage pregnancy alone. Strengthened partnerships will ensure that interventions reach both national and refugee communities,” Opogo said.
Among the proposed interventions are life skills training, peer-led support groups, counselling programmes, parental engagement, and celebrating academic success stories to inspire young girls.
Female Councillor Alia Kadara urged the council to endorse the proposal, calling it a timely move to safeguard the future of young girls.
“If we don’t act now, we risk losing an entire generation of girls to early pregnancies and school dropouts,” Kadara warned.
Yumbe District LCV Chairperson Asiku Abdulmutwalib Muhamoud commended TRI for the initiative and pledged full district support.
“We are committed to working with partners to ensure that our girls not only access education but also complete it. Teenage pregnancy is both a health and development issue,” he said.
With a population exceeding 1.17 million, Yumbe District is among Uganda’s most populous. It has 190,000 learners enrolled in primary schools, yet faces a 74 percent school dropout rate and a 20 percent teenage pregnancy rate, according to district data.
As Yumbe intensifies efforts to confront the crisis, leaders remain optimistic that the proposed project will spark sustained change to keep girls in school and secure their future.
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