At least 1,168 survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Kalangala district have received support from MIFUMI, with 400 of them being teenage mothers and girls at risk.
The six-year intervention, implemented by MIFUMI in partnership with the governments of the Netherlands and Iceland under the HEROES for Gender Transformative Action Programme, has focused on empowering vulnerable girls through vocational skills training aimed at transforming their lives.
As the organization concludes its activities in Kalangala, 74 girls have been sponsored to vocational institutions in greater Masaka to pursue hands-on skills training in various trades.
According to Immaculate Akello, the SGBV Officer at MIFUMI Kalangala, many of the beneficiaries had lost hope in life.
“These are girls who had given up because they are teenage mothers. Many have suffered domestic violence and dropped out of school. As MIFUMI, we look forward to seeing them return as role models in their communities. We hope they will inspire other young girls to stay in school and avoid early pregnancies,” Akello said.
The Project Coordinator, Robert Bbumba, revealed that the flagged-off girls will undergo training for a period of three to six months in courses including tailoring, hairdressing, computer studies, and plumbing.
“We expect that at the end of their training, they will become trainers of other girls who did not get the same opportunity in their communities,” Bbumba added.
Many of the girls supported dropped out of school as early as Primary Four and Primary Five, with some becoming mothers at just 14 years old. Several reported that the men responsible for their pregnancies abandoned them, leaving them to raise children without paternal support.
Parents expressed frustration, saying they often do not know the fathers of their daughters’ children and are left to care for both their daughters and grandchildren.
According to William Nkumbi, the Probation Officer in Kalangala, the district continues to register alarmingly high rates of teenage pregnancy.
Between 28% and 30% of girls in Kalangala become pregnant before reaching 18 years of age, meaning nearly three out of every ten girls enter motherhood while still children themselves.
Among girls aged 14 to 19 years, five in every ten have already given birth, highlighting the depth of the crisis in the island district.
Even more disturbing, reports indicate that some children begin engaging in sexual activity as early as 10 years old, exposing them to abuse, early pregnancy, and school dropout.
Nkumbi further revealed that cases of domestic violence and child abuse remain widespread, though many still go unreported due to fear and stigma.
He noted that every week authorities handle between three and four cases involving children aged 3 to 9 years who have been sexually abused. Additionally, eight to ten cases weekly involve girls aged 14 to 15 who are defiled, with many resulting in pregnancy.
However, following intensified community sensitization by child rights organizations, reporting of such cases has increased by approximately 78 percent, indicating growing awareness and willingness among communities to speak out.
These figures paint a troubling picture of vulnerability among young girls in Kalangala, particularly within fishing communities where economic instability, school dropouts, and gender imbalances have heightened exposure to exploitation.
Without sustained intervention, leaders warn, the district risks reversing the progress made in protecting children and reducing teenage pregnancies.
“The numbers fluctuate due to the fishing community dynamics in Kalangala. There are more men than women, which creates social pressure and contributes to exploitation of underage girls,” Nkumbi explained.
Nkumbi added that while awareness efforts have improved reporting and support systems, there are concerns that once MIFUMI phases out its activities, the situation could deteriorate again without sustained intervention.
As the 74 girls begin their vocational training journey in Masaka, district leaders and stakeholders remain hopeful that they will return empowered, self-reliant, and capable of transforming their communities.
The initiative stands as a critical intervention in a district battling high levels of gender-based violence and teenage pregnancy, offering renewed hope to hundreds of vulnerable girls.