Lira University receives Shs3b to tackle Uganda’s teenage pregnancy crisis

Lira University, in collaboration with its partners, is launching a research project worth 1.2 million Canadian dollars (approximately Shs3 billion) aimed at addressing the high costs associated with teenage pregnancy and reducing the burden of child dependency in Uganda.

The project, titled Enhancing the Integration of Adolescent-Friendly Family Planning and Post-Abortion Care (CAFFP-PAC), will be implemented in Lira City and Lira District in northern Uganda.

Lira University is working alongside the University of Calgary in Canada, the Global Forum for Development (GLOFORD)—a non-governmental organization in Uganda—and Reproductive Health Uganda to execute this three-year initiative.

Dr Benard Omech, the Principal Investigator of CAFFP-PAC, explained that the project seeks to address the challenges faced by young people, particularly adolescents, in the Lango Sub-region of northern Uganda.

Teenage pregnancy and child marriage are significant issues hindering development in the region.

According to data from the Uganda Health Information System, 1,755 girls under the age of 15 gave birth at various health facilities across the country from March 2023 to March 2024. Of these, 52 were from the Lango Sub-region.

The data reveals that Oyam District has the highest number of cases in Lango, with 10 instances, followed by Apac and Amolatar with 8 each. Lira City and Kole District each recorded 6 cases, while Lira District had 4, Kwania 3, Otuke 2, Alebtong 2, and Dokolo 3.

Dr Omech pointed out that, on average, 27% of adolescents in Uganda become pregnant at a young age, but the situation in Lango is even more severe.

"In some sub-counties, the pregnancy rate is as high as 40%. In many maternity wards in health facilities across Lango, more than half of the mothers giving birth are teenagers under the age of 19. This is extremely concerning because a teenager is essentially a child caring for another child," he told Daily Monitor on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

According to Dr Omech, teenage pregnancy disrupts a young person’s education, which in turn leads to challenges in raising their child. This often results in a vicious cycle of poverty and inequality.

Pregnant teenage mothers are also at a higher risk of complications.

"Some face life-threatening complications during childbirth, while others may attempt unsafe methods to end their pregnancies. These methods could include using herbs or visiting traditional healers, which can lead to unsafe abortions and even death," Dr Omech explained.

“These are some of the main reasons why we believe this project is so important for the region, and everyone at our recent inception meeting with key stakeholders agrees that it is timely.”

Dr Morris Chris Ongom, CEO of GLOFORD, emphasized the importance of prioritizing youth health if Uganda is to fully benefit from its young population.

“If we fail to prioritize the health of young people, we will have a sick population in the future. Sick youth will become sick adults. If they’re infected with HIV/AIDS, stressed by multiple challenges, unable to care for their children, or forced to drop out of school, particularly girls, we risk losing an entire generation,” he said.

He added, “We must take advantage of our demographic dividend—our population is among the highest in the world—and ensure that we’re empowering our youth to contribute productively.”

Dr Ongom also pointed out that GLOFORD's role in the project will focus on community mobilization, leveraging the organization's experience in addressing local issues.

Lira University will provide leadership in research and related academic work, while Reproductive Health Uganda will support service provision.

Lira District and Lira City authorities will ensure that six health centers in both areas are involved in the project, serving as key research locations.

 “The project partners are hopeful that the research will provide valuable insights into adolescent sexual and reproductive health, not just in Uganda, but globally,” Dr Ongom said.

“We plan to share our findings at international conferences and ensure that these findings inform decision-making around policies and health service delivery,” he continued. “We want to make health services more youth-friendly so that young people feel supported when they seek care. They should find a nurse, leadership, and structures that help address their concerns.”

The second National Strategy to End Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy (2022/2023–2026/2027) outlines a comprehensive approach to tackling child marriage and teenage pregnancy in Uganda.

Dr. Omech acknowledged that while such policies have helped reduce teenage pregnancy rates in the past, progress has stalled at 27%. He believes that additional strategies are needed to make the policy more effective.

“We’ve designed this research to explore how to improve adolescents' access to sexual and reproductive health services, particularly family planning,” he said.

The Economic Costs

A report by the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development reveals that teenage mothers are three times less likely to secure professional jobs, with 47% likely to end up in self-employment in peasant agriculture.

Further estimates by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA, 2022) suggest that around 60% of teenage mothers will eventually work in agriculture, leading to lower income levels and a diminished quality of life.

The financial impact of teenage pregnancies is significant. In 2019/20, adolescent mothers were estimated to spend Shs791.5b on deliveries and newborn care. At the household level, families of teenage mothers spent an estimated Shs1.28 trillion on sexual and reproductive health services in 2020. Additionally, health facilities spent Shs246.9b on healthcare for teenage mothers.

On a national scale, Uganda is estimated to spend Shs645 billion (approximately 181.8 million USD) annually on healthcare for teenage mothers and their children’s education.

The economic burden of teenage pregnancy negatively impacts national development, hindering progress toward achieving the Demographic Dividend and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly goals 1 (ending poverty), 5 (gender equality), and 8 (productive employment and decent work).

UNICEF highlights that teenage pregnancy can have severe consequences for the mother, including death during pregnancy or childbirth. In 2016, teenage mothers accounted for about 30% of maternal deaths in Uganda (UBOS, 2018).