Kyabazinga Rallies Busoga To End Teenage Pregnancy In Landmark Partnership With UNICEF

His Majesty William Gabula Nadiope IV, the Kyabazinga of Busoga, has joined forces with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to confront the growing crisis of teenage pregnancy and school dropout in the region.

Recognizing the devastating impact of child marriage and early pregnancies, the Kyabazinga who was appointed UNAIDS ambassador has taken a proactive stance to curb the alarming trend. On May 30, 2025, he convened a strategic meeting with education leaders, community heads, and students to address the root causes and mobilize stakeholders toward lasting solutions.

Uniting Leaders for Action

The high-level dialogue brought together District Education Officers (DEOs), school inspectors, local officials, and learners from primary and secondary schools across Busoga. Discussions centered on the drivers of teenage pregnancy and school dropout, informed by feedback from questionnaires the Kyabazinga had earlier solicited from children and education stakeholders.

In his remarks, the Kyabazinga urged participants to support Abasadha n’empango (“Men are the Pillars”), an initiative under Kyabazinga Initiatives aimed at ending child marriage in Busoga and across Uganda. He emphasized the need for men to engage in economic activities that uplift households, reducing the financial strain that forces children out of school.
“The harmful practice of teenage pregnancy and child marriage continues to rob our young girls of their future,” he stated, calling for a unified response from parents, educators, policymakers, and community leaders.
Building a Collective Response.

Kyabazinga reaffirmed his commitment to leveraging Busoga’s cultural institutions to mobilize efforts against teenage pregnancy. “We must pause and reassess where we are failing as a community,” he said, urging stakeholders to devise innovative interventions.

Busoga Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Joseph Muvawala, criticized parental neglect and the education system’s excessive focus on academic grades at the expense of life skills. “We need a holistic approach that prepares our children for the future beyond the classroom,” he remarked.

UNICEF Country Representative Dr. Robin Nandy applauded the Kyabazinga’s leadership, affirming UNICEF’s support for efforts that reduce school dropout rates and enable young mothers to continue their education.

A United Effort for a Brighter Future

The meeting was attended by senior kingdom officials, including the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister Osman Ahmed Noor, Speaker of Busoga Lukiiko George Mutyabule, and ministers overseeing education, gender, and constitutional affairs. Their collective