Last Updated on: 25th October 2021, 08:18 pm
Arrest perpetrators of teenage pregnancy – Minister Obua orders
Alebtong – 25, October 2021: The State Minister of Sports in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Denis Hamson Obua has expressed utter disappointment over the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy in the Alebtong district.
For that, he has directed that the perpetrators be jailed.
The Police report in Alebtong indicates that a total of 1,211 teenage girls were defiled and impregnated during the second lockdown that saw the closure of schools by government as part of many measures to stop the spread of coronavirus – now a global pandemic.
Minister Obua who doubles as Ajuri County MP has directed local council one chairpersons, the Police and community leaders to swiftly identify the men who have impregenated these young girls so that they are brought to book.
The directive was made during the belated youth day celebration for Alebtong district held at Alebtong Boma ground over the weekend.
The theme of the International Youth Day 2021 was, “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health.” It highlights that success of such a global effort will not be achieved without the meaningful participation of young people.
In 1999, in its resolution 54/120, the General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day.
The Assembly recommended that public information activities be organized to support the Day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995 (resolution 50/81).
International Youth Day is commemorated every year on 12 August. The Focal Point on Youth selects a theme for the day often with input from youth organizations and members of the UN Inter-Agency Network in Youth development. The event encourages youth around the world to organize activities to raise awareness about the situation in their country.
The tough talking Minister said, “We must crack a whip on the perpetrators of these crimes, some of them are old men around my age but decides to go for a 14 year old girl. “Why would you have an appetite for a toddler when there are mature women?” Mr Obua questioned.
Minster Obua says it is regrettable for a small district like Alebtong to record alarming cases of teenage pregnancies and challenged the community to be responsible in protecting the girl child instead of blaming government for closure of schools.
“But one thing that Covid-19 has exposed is the weakness at a community and family level, and one would ask, where else would the child be more safe if not at home?” Sports minister charged.
Speaking as a guest honor during the function where he represented Gender, Labour and Social Development Minister Betty Amongi Akena, Minster Obua tasked police and local leaders to start hunting the defilers who impregnated the teenage girls in Alebtong in order to avoid more cases.
According to Obua, the majority of people responsible for pregnancies are adult men who should have been at the helm of protecting the rights of the teenagers in the country.
Obua also appealed to the young people in their respective jurisdictions to appreciate and embrace government programs such as emyooga , youth livelihood program, and added that the Parish Development Model yet to be rolled out presents the youth with even better opportunities for socioeconomic transformation since each parish shall receive shillings 100m annually.
The national chairman Youth Council, Jacob Eyeru had however asked Obua to report to Parliament that 30% of the Parish Development Model funds should benefit the young people.
Robert Ocen, the district’s youth chairman also raised to the attention of the leaders lack of transport and an office to coordinate youth activities.
Obua, himself a product of the youth council, said youth council leadership is a nursery bed for grooming future leaders and cited names of prominent leaders in Lango who passed through youth leadership, among them former EALA Speaker, Dan Kidega.
Speaking at the same event, Alebtong LCV chairman David Kennedy Odongo expressed his dismay on the increasing teenage pregnancy but challenged girls to be their protectors and avoid engaging in sexual immorality.
He also challenged youth to be focused and appropriately utilize the funds allocated to them for improved livelihood.