His Royal Highness Emorimor Paul Sande Emolot, the Paramount Chief of the Iteso Cultural Union, has expressed deep concern over the increasing cases of early marriages in Amuria District.
On the second day of his tour in Amuria, Emorimor attributed the high poverty levels in Teso to the persistent issue of early marriages, calling for urgent intervention to curb the practice.
Speaking to local leaders and residents in Amuria Town Council Headquarters, Emorimor emphasized that the lack of peace within families is a major contributing factor to the rising number of child marriages.
“Children are running into marriages because there is no peace in their homes. Where there is no peace, children will run away,” he stated.
He urged parents to foster a stable and harmonious family environment to prevent children from resorting to early unions as an escape.
Emorimor’s concerns are underscored by recent statistics from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), which indicate that the Teso sub-region has one of the highest household poverty rates in the country, second only to Karamoja.
In 2020, the poverty level in Teso stood at 22%, significantly higher than the national average.
This economic hardship, coupled with domestic instability, creates an environment where early marriages become a perceived escape for many young individuals.
The cultural leader further pointed out that early marriages limit educational opportunities for young people, preventing them from acquiring skills that could elevate them out of poverty.
He noted that in the past, Teso was a hub for scholars and professionals, but the growing trend of early marriages has hindered the region’s progress.
Emorimor has also urged teachers and educational institutions to prioritize career guidance for students.
While addressing students at Amuria Secondary School and Amuria High School earlier today, he stressed the importance of choosing courses that offer better employment prospects.
He observed that many students pursue “flat degrees” that are less competitive in the job market, leading to high unemployment and underemployment.
“The poor career guidance of children has left the majority of our youth employed as private security guards and other low-paying jobs, yet Teso was a great producer of professors and other professionals,” he lamented.
Emorimor called on policymakers, parents, and local authorities to work together in addressing both early marriages and the need for better career guidance.
He emphasized that educational institutions must provide students with the necessary information to choose relevant courses that will enable them to secure meaningful employment.
Additionally, he urged the government and development partners to invest in programs that economically empower families, reducing their dependency on early marriages as a coping mechanism for poverty.
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