Minister calls off child marriage

Minister calls off child marriage

At least seven weddings involving young girls have been postponed by the state minister for gender and culture, Ms. Peace Mutuuzo, including the nuptials of a 9-year-old girl from the Sembabule District.

“The abduction of young girls for marriage is widespread. About seven weddings involving very young girls have fallen through in the past several months, with the most recent one involving a 9-year-old from Ssembabule District, Ms. Mutuuzo said during a symposium held by the Gender ministry in Kampala last Friday.

The wedding was taking place at the girl’s parents’ house in Ssembabule, and the groom had packed a V8 car into the compound. I learned about it via a tip. I got there right away, broke up the marriage, and requested that the police take over, she claimed.

The minister added that it is a common occurrence in pastoral villages for families to force their underage daughters into marriage in exchange for animals.

“A select group of women sneakily alert duty bearers to their husbands’ plans to marry off their young daughters. The minister questioned: “What kind of partner would you have to argue with about matters of national importance when you marry a 9-year-old.

The minimum legal age for marriage in Uganda is 18 years old, according to both the Children Act of 2016 and the Constitution of Uganda from 1995.