Kicunguro, the centre giving pregnant teens a lifeline

Founded to support vulnerable girls in Ankole, the center currently shelters twenty young mothers and their infants, providing them with safety and a fresh start.

In Sheema Municipality, Kicunguro Angels Center Ltd has become a lifeline for teenage mothers—some as young as 13—who face abandonment and hardship after becoming pregnant.

Founded to support vulnerable girls in Ankole, the center currently shelters twenty young mothers and their infants, providing them with safety and a fresh start.

The urgent need for such support is evident in Kabwohe Health Center IV’s recent report, revealing a troubling 15% teenage pregnancy rate in the region.

In Uganda, teenage pregnancy often brings a stigma that results in young mothers being abandoned by their families and communities.

Many of these girls end up on the streets, grappling with hunger, illness, and even thoughts of suicide as they struggle alone. But with the help of Kicunguro Angels Center, some of these young mothers are finding a new sense of hope.

Latifa Nansereko, now 14, became pregnant in December 2023 and was rejected by her family. With nowhere else to turn, she sought help from her baby’s father, only to be turned away again.

Alone and desperate, she spent months on Mbarara’s High Street before the center rescued her.

“When my father chased me away, I felt hopeless,” Latifa shared.

“The center saved my life.”

Another resident, Rita Ampaire, described her harrowing experience. After unsuccessful attempts to abort her pregnancy, she kept it a secret until giving birth alone in a banana plantation.

“I was too scared to go home, so I left my baby in the cold all night,” she recalled.

The next day, passersby found the baby and brought it to the police.

Perina Owomugisha, also 14, was similarly abandoned.

“The father’s family rejected me when they learned I was pregnant,” she said. Stories like these underscore the stigma and rejection these young mothers face.

Teen pregnancies often bring severe medical risks. Dr.  Horus Kizito, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Kabwohe HCIV, treats an average of 200 pregnancies monthly, with 15% involving teenage mothers.

“These pregnancies carry risks like low birth weight, birth trauma, obstructed labor, and fistula,” Dr Kizito explained. “Without adequate support, these girls face serious health challenges.”

Despite these hardships, many young mothers dream of returning to school. Headteachers like Jolly Kabigumira of Kashaka Girls School are committed to supporting their reintegration.

“Teenage pregnancy is not a life sentence. These girls deserve a second chance,” Jolly noted.

“In my 20 years as a headteacher, I’ve seen too many girls ostracized by their families and communities. Everyone deserves a second chance.”

Kicunguro Angels Centre provides these young mothers with more than just shelter. They receive food, medical care, and vocational training in skills like tailoring, mat-making, producing mosquito repellent gel, candle-making, soap-making, and mushroom farming.

Kicunguro means to rescue in Runyankore.

However, the centre faces ongoing challenges due to limited supplies and equipment for hands-on training.

Canon David Kabigumira, who co-founded the center with his wife, described their mission.

“We started this center to give these girls hope,” he said.

“Many of them consider suicide, while others struggle alone after being abandoned by their families and communities.”

The Kabigumiras work tirelessly, collecting young mothers from hospitals, police stations, and the streets, offering them shelter until they’re ready to return to their communities.

“Some parents welcome them back and help them return to school, while others reject them entirely.

Many of the girls we’ve helped are now back in school, and some have even graduated from university,” Kabigumira shared.

Despite their success, the center faces significant financial and resource limitations. Kabigumira emphasized the need for financial support, counseling services, healthcare personnel, and partnerships to sustainably restore hope for these teenage mothers.

“Our goal is to help these girls deliver safely, recover, and return to school,” he said.

With teenage pregnancy rates climbing across Sheema and Ankole, this rising crisis demands urgent action from families, communities, and the government to support young mothers, combat stigma, and ensure they have the resources to rebuild their lives.