Delay Marriage Promote Schooling for Ugandan Girls

As the world is dealing with the effects of the corona virus socially and economically, so is Uganda, The country has 160 confirmed cases of the virus, 66 recoveries, and zero fatalities. Covid-19 has not only affected the health sector of the country but all sectors have been affected this because the virus spreads so fast and its airborne, leaving the president with no choice but to put the country under a complete lockdown coming close to two months now. This has had its both negative and positive effects on everyone but the concern is mainly on the vulnerable girls and children whose families have not been able to afford and offer basic needs.

The country has registered increased number of domestic violence cases in families, this is majorly attributed to many women tormented behind the lock down and they are not able to report such unjust circumstances. Children especially the girls are also stuck at home and in the villages with their tormentors.

“Since he had been going out with other women, I requested that we do an HIV test which he rejected. On the day the president announced a 14 day lockdown, late in the night he crept in, held my mouth tight and took advantage of me,”.

Nakawunde Farida(not real name)a mother of five and resident of Kalangala village, Bagezza sub-county, in Mubende district recently called the Action Aid Uganda helpline crying as of New vision 20^th April 2020.

Many young people are confined in their homes with their abusers and these are the people they are close to for example fathers, uncles, brothers and other relatives .Women on the other hand have become breadwinners for the families surviving on the little savings they had since some men have resorted to drinking and neglecting the families. Girls have not been able to access menstrual hygiene materials, young children are being affected by malnutrition and hunger since Households are not able to provide basic needs.

The government of Uganda under the office of the Prime Minister donated food stuffs to the most vulnerable households in the slums of kampala. However, this is not sustainable as the country is still under a lockdown and the food provided was not enough.

We humbly appeal to our dear donors to please donate to this cause, we plan to feed 100 families in the slums of Katanga and kamokya in kampala.25 kgs for maize flour and 20 kgs of dry beans can feed a household of five occupants for a month.