The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa has asked government not to approve the policy of having girls from the age of 15 years to use contraceptives, urging that, doing so is equivalent to legalizing sexual violence in Uganda.

Tayebwa was speaking during parliamentary sessions on October 10, 2023, noting that, such a move would be equivalent to legitimizing sexual violence in Uganda and the devil should not take hold of such thoughts to approve birth control for teenagers.

“We pray that the devil doesn’t find his way, and such thoughts should never come into the minds of our people, because that is formalizing defilement,” Tayebwa said.

He said that would be a clear indication that they have failed, adding that, they would rather strengthen the monitoring to ensure that they fight the vice but not legitimizing it by giving such services.

Lucy Akello, the Woman Member of Parliament for Amuru district constituency asked the Ministry of Health to explain if the age consent in Uganda has been lowered by three years from 18 years, and if government is no longer scared of HIV and effects of contraceptives on the bodies of teenagers.

“Where is the plan coming from, have you done a study to find out the implications of contraceptives on young girls who haven’t given birth? Even me, I fear them. I use the natural method. Can you assure us that our children are safe with this coming policy,” Akello said.

Margret Muhanga, the Minister for Primary Health Care said that, the news reports were alluded to by Charles Olaro, the Director of Curative Services at the Ministry of Health who posed it as a question and denied allegations that the policy has been approved, but this prompted the increase in teenage pregnancies in Uganda.

“We have so many teenage pregnancies; everyone who is sleeping with these girls knows they are defiling them, and being married off to 65-year-old men. So, he suggested that, we should lower the age of family planning, and he was asking the audience, because he is a medical doctor he weighed the options,” Muhanga said.

According to the Uganda Demographic and Health, Teenage pregnancy in Uganda is a major challenge. The survey of 2011 indicates that, 24% of teenagers (15-19) have begun childbearing. Girls living in rural settings begin childbearing earlier with 24% rate more than their urban counterparts at 21%.