Jegar
Alur kingdom is one of the kingdoms in Uganda facing the challenge of child marriage and unwanted babies. The kingdom is doing nothing to respond to the call of the African Union Joint efforts to end such practices through campaigns and strategies. The most at risk districts of Nebbi and Zombo lacks specific services with dedicated spaces that guarantee the girl child empowerment and sustainable development .
Alur Kingdom is densely populated with population of over 8,000,000 And have been assessed as a region of least development in Uganda, the poorest among other kingdoms countrywide and with the highest prevalence of child early forceful marriages and unwanted babies. There are no resources available due to the situation of corruption, mismanagement of public funds by both state, civil society organizations, religious institutions and the kingdom itself.
The main ethnic groups are Alur,Jonam,Keebu,Lendu and Kakwa among others. These identified communities have not recognized clearly that early child marriage and teenage pregnancy are serious problems. Poverty in the kingdom has led to more thousand of child marriages and teenage pregnancies and children orphaned due to loss of their parents and relatives.
In Alur kingdom today, poor health including HIV/AIDS epidemic, early death, child mortality and lack of educational opportunities and massive corruption lead the list of problems attributed to child marriage and unwanted pregnancies .The leading cause of death for young girls at early age is early pregnancy and HIV/AIDs epidemic as well as malnutrition .These child brides have babies too young , at extremely high risk of fistulas ( vaginal and anal ruptures) , their babies are sicker and weaker and many don’t survive childhood, have a higher risk of being infected with sexually transmitted diseases, are at an increased risk of chronic anemia and obesity, have poor access to contraception and have a lack of educational and opportunities. The forcing of young girls into early marriages created a lifetime of poverty.
The recent confiscation and destruction of fishermen properties on Lake Albert by marine police , the illegal arrest, detention and burning of fishing gears on Lake Albert by marine police to contain the illegal fishing, has also led to the increase of thousands of girl children’s in Alur , within the age of 9 and 18 years in early child marriages , high prostitutions, unwanted teenage pregnancies and domestic violence particularly in Panyimur, Panyigoro, and Pakwach town council in Jonam constituency. This unwanted generation will face serious problems with more deaths, high illiteracy, poor health, much hunger and abject poverty within the next five years.
Poverty in Alur is a catalyst that has increased child marriage rates among the local population. It has also an impact on religious, economic, cultural and social effect on communities.
In Alur, the practices of child marriage goes unnoticed, broader initiatives have been developed with child marriages in mind and there is no data that suggest that child marriage prevalence is decreasing overall, and the pace of change is slow.
There is lack of power for individuals to take action against child marriage and teenage pregnancy and lack of social spaces to discuss issues encompassing such practices. Many people don’t know their status, as there are limited place for people to have voluntary counseling and support.
Based on the United Nation (UN) convention on the Rights of the child marriage refers to marriage under the age of 18.
Marriage before the age of 18 is a fundamental human rights violation. Child marriage disproportionately affects young girls, who are much more likely to be married as children than young boys. The latest International estimates indicates that worldwide , more than 60million women aged 20-24 were married before they reached the age of 18.
High level of corruption in the government and the civil society organizations in Alur Kingdom is another reason for the increase in early child marriage, civil society groups utilizes donors funds for their personal gains and for family support .
There is no initiative that uses different mediums and strategies to find solutions to end child marriage and make provision for girls impregnated to improve their access to basic facilities and services.
If the civil society organizations were willing to complement the efforts of the African Union, they would have aimed at enhancing the implementation of related African Union policy and legal instruments committed to end early child marriage such as , the African Youth Charter as a direct investment in young people, the African charter on the rights and welfare of the child, African Union Social policy framework, the African Governance infrastructure; the African Union Continental Policy Framework on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and the Maputo Plan of Action for its implementation .
However, because of corruption, nothing can be achieved in terms of prevention activity. The NGO’s active in Nebbi, Zombo,
Nyaravur,Paidha,Pakwach,Dei,Panyimur,Goli,Angal,Kasatu,Parombo and other places in the Kingdom should consider strategies beyond standard programmatic interventions especially innovative social change mechanisms to speed up the pace of change; such as the power of 21st Century technologies for communication, connection, education and mobilization.
There should be a large efforts by NGO’s, the Kingdom, religious groups and the local government to end early child marriage .These efforts should address more issues in child marriage ;formulate strategies to end child marriage; early forceful marriage and support to unwanted babies ,resulting in education, health and poverty reduction through creating an enabling environment ,training of community stakeholders, raise awareness about the negative consequences of child marriage, sharing information and creating safe spaces; providing non cash incentives and scholarships for girls and families ;peer exchange; advocate for new policies and enforcement of existing laws; community events , such as regional debates, fun marathon and forum, empowering girls and women that results in health, education and livelihood.
Finally, the people of Alur Kingdom should never trust any politician. Politicians have become the most un trusted stakeholders. With so many of them telling lies, embezzling public funds for their personal gain.
Jegar Sahadutha ( Witness Between me and You Today). 