Parliament To Debate Church Decision To Ban Pregnant Girls From Schools

The Uganda Women’s Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) is set to table a motion before parliament to discuss the recent ban by Church of Uganda against teenage pregnant mothers from accessing church founded schools.

The notice was given by Sarah Opendi, the Tororo  District Woman MP, who also doubles as Chairperson UWOPA during the plenary sitting, describing as careless and dangerous directives issued by John Ssebagala Bishop Mukono Diocese who barred all church founded schools in his diocese from admitting pregnant girls to schools, saying such actions would set bad examples for other girls.

Opendi argued that when schools opened on 10th January, some church founded schools have sent home girls because they are pregnant, yet these students were trapped home for two years and they didn’t become pregnant by choice.

“It is very unfortunate when Bishop Ssebagala gave a directive that none of the schools should allow pregnant girls to school, government kept quiet. Since then, the church founded schools have sent out girls from school. No girl should be denied education, no girl should be denied chance to be in school if she can be in school. I implore that these girls should be allowed in school,” Opendi said.  

However, Ibrahim Ssemujju (Kira Municipality) argued without evidence that churches shouldn’t go against their biblical teaching by allowing pregnant girls back into school yet it is the duty of Government to offer education to all children in Uganda.

He said that Government collects taxes and it made a pledge to make primary education available in every parish and secondary school available in every sub-county.

“It is the duty of Government to educate Ugandans. The church and other religious institutions are just helping and there is no way the church will go against biblical teaching allowing pregnant people into school in a church or in a mosque. Is she in order to now rewrite the policy that the responsibility must be shared by the church instead of her pleading with Government to execute its responsibility?” Ssemujju asked.

The Minister of Gender, Betty Amongi informed Parliament that her Ministry is coordinating a multi-sectoral approach targeting the UN Agency, civil society, government and other agencies and upon completion, Parliament will be briefed.

She explained, “In addressing this matter not only in the aspect of those who want to go back to school but there are those who want to go for other options like skilling.”   

Deputy Speaker, Anita Among asked Opendi to table before Parliament  a motion that can be debated and final decision reached.

“I think for us to discuss this thing exhaustively, we need to come up with a motion for this issue and we look at it in depth. We can’t make a ruling on whether the church should allow the students or not, of course there is a pronouncement by the President that these girls should be in school,” the Deputy Speaker said.

In December 2021, Vice President Jesca Alupo revealed that Uganda was grappling with 649,955 teenage pregnancies recorded between 2020 and 2021 in Uganda.

The Vice President said that of these numbers, 354,736 teenage pregnancies were registered in 2020, while 295,219 teenage pregnancies were registered between January to September 2021. This implies that on average, over 32,000 teenage pregnancies are recorded per month.

Among the districts with highest cases of teenage pregnancies included; Kamuli 6,535 Mayuge 6,205,  Mukono 5,535 Wakiso 10,439 Rakai 2,711 Luwero 4,545 Kampala 8,460.

The others include; Oyam 6,449 Lira 4,697, Arua 4,705 Yumbe 3,973 Kasese 7,319 Kyenjojo 4,341, Rakai 2711, Luwero 4545 and Kampala 8460.