Teenage mothers across Uganda are voicing frustration and pain over the continued expulsion of pregnant students by schools—a practice they say crushes dreams and violates the right to education.
Their concerns were amplified during a dialogue held in Kampala, where victims shared personal experiences of rejection and discrimination, demanding inclusive and compassionate policies.
Voices from the Margins: A Generation Denied
Sophia Walakira, who became pregnant during the COVID-19 lockdown, recalled being turned away from multiple schools once she tried to resume her studies.
“Being pregnant was already tough, but being denied education made it worse. I felt punished for something I already regretted,” Walakira said.
She was eventually admitted to London College Nansana, where she excelled and completed Senior Six with 12 points. However, she emphasized that many other girls don’t get that second chance.
Another teenager, Celestine Mugenyi, was dismissed just before her Senior Four exams after her school conducted pregnancy checks.
“They sent me home and told me to bring my parents. I felt like my future ended right there,” she said.
Despite early struggles, she later completed Senior Six through adult education.
Unjust Policies, Deep Inequities
Walakira and Mugenyi’s stories reflect a broader systemic issue. Calvin Nalufunya, impregnated by her teacher, was forced by her mother to terminate the pregnancy at six months. Despite this trauma and minimal support, she paid her own fees to complete Senior Six and now dreams of studying automotive engineering.
According to ISER (Initiative for Social and Economic Rights), expulsions of pregnant girls are often arbitrary and discriminatory, with schools offering little to no support.
Political Voices Call for Reform
Sarah Opendi, MP and Chair of the Uganda Women’s Parliamentary Association, condemned the practice of expelling pregnant girls, especially those in day schools.
“These girls are lured or misled into pregnancy. They deserve our support, not punishment. We must be flexible and compassionate,” she said.
Opendi stressed the need for government investment in prevention programs and tougher penalties for perpetrators of sexual abuse. She criticized existing Ministry of Education guidelines that delay re-enrollment until a child is six months old, calling them unrealistic and harmful.
Startling Data and Broken Systems
Uganda’s 2024 National Census revealed that:
- Nearly 50% of the population is under 18.
- 26% of primary school-aged children are out of school.
- 22% of girls aged 14-18 drop out due to pregnancy.
- Only 8% of those ever return to the classroom.
Current policies include mandatory pregnancy testing, forced maternity leave, and re-entry bans—practices that violate privacy, dignity, and bodily autonomy.
Education Is an Economic and Human Rights Issue
ISER’s Labila Sumayah stressed that teenage pregnancy is not just a health or education crisis—it’s an economic crisis.
“Every girl forced out of school increases national economic loss and family burden. Educating girls is not charity—it’s smart economics,” she noted.
As Uganda struggles to meet its Sustainable Development Goals on education, gender equality, and health, advocates say that reversing discriminatory school practices and supporting pregnant learners is a vital step forward.https://ugandatimes.ug/tag/school-expulsions-of-pregnant-girls-in-uganda/
