Kagoya Hairati fell pregnant in June 2022. The 16-year-old, who was a primary six pupil at a Buwidi primary school in Kiwanyi village, is among the 32,000 teenage pregnancies recorded per month across the country on average. According to the UNFPA 2021 report, a total of 354,736 teenage pregnancies were registered in 2020, while 295,219 were registered between January to September in 2021. Implying that on average, 32,000 teenage pregnancies are recorded monthly in Uganda.
“I was devastated. I didn’t want to become a mother at my age. I began a relationship with a 22-year-old barber who had a shop in the trading center during the COVID-19 lockdown. When my mother noticed that I was pregnant, she was very disappointed and said since she could not afford my basic needs, sent me away to go to the man who was responsible for the pregnancy, but unfortunately, the man denied making me pregnant and walked away. I walked 5 miles to find my grandmother who welcomed me,” she says looking down sadly with tears flowing down her chicks.
Hairati has never known her father and was living with her three stepsisters: 12-year-old Mary, 8-year-old Nancy, and 12-year-old Moreen in her mother’s one-bedroomed house before she was sent away. 60-year-old Jalia, Hairati’s grandmother lives in a small grass-thatched hut. She is a sickly old woman, who can hardly work to earn or even dig to bring a meal to the table. Hairati described the three months of staying with her grandmother as ‘very difficult.
“Grandma survives on well-wishers, who donate food, and sometimes we go hungry without a meal, the man responsible for this pregnancy is nowhere to be seen, he denied having made me pregnant. Any support for me and my grandmother to have some food will be highly appreciated” she adds in a low voice.
“Even though I am pregnant, I still want to go back to school once the baby is born, education is the key to success, and I will be grateful if a well-wisher helped me achieve my dream of becoming a professional tailor when I grow up.” She continues, this time with her head raised.
Hairati has been enrolled in one of the psychosocial counseling programs for sexually abused teenagers offered by Vision Save for Vulnerable Children and Women (VSVCW), she has also been enrolled in antenatal services at one of the community health centers that work with VSVCW to improve access to maternal health.
Donate today and save a life!
1. A donation of $100 will enable Hairati and her grandmother to have access to a nutritious meal and other basic needs for a month.
2. A donation of $500 will enable Hairati to have a daily meal and be enrolled in life skills training for vulnerable children for one Term or semester.
3. A donation of $1500 will enable Hairati to have a daily meal, life skills training, and start-up capital for her to earn money to take care of herself and the baby.