First Lady calls for girl-child empowerment

Schoolgirls play at the venue of celebrations to mark Day of the Girl-Child in Kampala recently. Photo | Stephen Wandera

Mukono- The First Lady, Ms Janet Museveni, has said parents should do more to protect girls from cross-generational sex.

She said it is incumbent upon both parents to ensure all girls get a “wholesome education”.

Speaking during celebrations to mark the International Day of the Girl-Child in Mukono District yesterday, Ms Museveni said many of the girls who drop out of school do not have functional information about sexual reproductive health.

“Maternal mortality has been aggravated by teenage pregnancies and the high school dropout because young girls can easily be lured into sexual harassment by elder men because they lack enough education on sexual reproduction by their families,” Ms Museveni said.

She applauded the Nnabagereka (Queen) of Buganda Kingdom, Sylvia Nagginda, for her role in instilling morals among girls through her annual royal mentoring camp also known as “Ekisaakate” .

During yesterday’s event, the First Lady launched the national campaign on adolescent girls, which will highlight the importance of investing more in the adolescent girl-child.