Kyabazinga of Busoga Launches Crusade Against the “Alarming” Teenage Pregnancy Crisis

The Kyabazinga of Busoga, His Majesty William Gabula Nadiope IV, has declared war on the escalating crisis of teenage pregnancies and school dropouts plaguing his kingdom, forging a key partnership with UNICEF and rallying community leaders to urgent action.

The monarch, also serving as a UNAIDS ambassador, convened a critical summit on May 30th, 2025, directly confronting the “alarming rise” in cases threatening children’s futures across the Busoga sub-region. District Education Officers, school inspectors, local leaders, and students from primary and secondary schools gathered for candid discussions on the root causes.

“Child marriage and teenage pregnancy continue to threaten children’s futures,” stated the Kyabazinga, underscoring the urgency. His call to action follows a region-wide effort where he solicited responses via questionnaire from children and stakeholders on the drivers behind these trends, responses he received at the meeting.

Central to his strategy is the launch of the “Abasadha n’empango” (Men are the Pillars) initiative, spearheaded by Kyabazinga Initiatives. The King implored education sector stakeholders to join this campaign, emphasizing the critical need for male responsibility in ending child marriage across Busoga and Uganda.

“The harmful practice of teenage pregnancy and child marriage devastates young girls’ futures,” the Kyabazinga asserted, demanding unified action from parents, educators, community leaders, and policymakers. He specifically challenged men to engage in job creation and income-generating activities to improve household incomes, thereby reducing economic pressures forcing children out of school.

Reiterating his personal commitment, the monarch pledged to leverage the cultural institution of Busoga Kingdom to strengthen coordination, mobilize stakeholders, and build a powerful movement to end teenage pregnancy while improving education, health, and household income indicators. He urged students directly, warning them against choices that could easily derail their futures.

His challenge to stakeholders was unequivocal: “Pause and ponder what is going wrong in our communities and innovatively come up with strategies to confront these [issues].”

The Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Joseph Muvawala, delivered a stark critique, holding parents accountable for neglect and leaving children to “fend for themselves and self-manage.” He also condemned schools prioritizing academic grades over holistic education, arguing this focus “has compromised the competitiveness among learners.”

UNICEF’s Country Representative, Dr. Robin Nandi, endorsed the Kyabazinga’s leadership. “UNICEF is committed to supporting initiatives that aim to reduce school dropout rates and support young mothers to continue with their education,” Dr. Nandi stated, commending the monarch’s proactive stance.

The Busoga Kingdom, bolstered by its UNICEF partnership and engagement with national and international stakeholders, announced plans to roll out community-based initiatives, policy reviews, and targeted interventions aimed squarely at combating teenage pregnancy and keeping children in classrooms.

The high-level meeting included Busoga Kingdom’s 2nd Deputy Prime Minister Osman Ahmed Noor, Speaker of Busoga Lukiiko George Mutyabule, Kyabazinga Affairs Minister Owek. Yudaya Babirye, Education Minister Owek. Nasabu Nantale, Gender Minister Owek Rose Kafuko, Constitutional Affairs Minister Alex Luganda, and Prince Sam Nkuutu of the Issabalangira.