AfriYAN 2019 Qualitative Report on Child Marriages in Uganda by Reach A Hand, Uganda (RAHU)

A QUALITATIVE REPORT 2019 ON CHILD MARRIAGES UNDER THE

“MY VOICE MY RIGHT” (MVMR) PROGRAM CONDUCTED IN THE FIVE DISTRICTS OF EASTERN UGANDA BY

AfRiYAN UGANDA CHAPTER

Supported by

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We acknowledge the role of the 12 youth researchers who did data collection in the 5 districts of Jinja, Buyende, Pallisa, Butaleja and Mayuge. These were in no particular order; 1. Mary Namususwa 2. Joel Mugabi 3. Conny Nabusimba 4. Kenneth Etajak 5. Joet Bazanya 6. Bwoye Tadeo 7. Isaac Godwin Aisu 8. Bumba Ebyesali 9. Suzan Ikareut 10. Enock Malinga 11 Dorothy Nagujja 12. Amina Naikoba We further acknowledge the AfriYAN member organizations that oversaw and contributed to the process through supporting the foundation training and data collection in the districts namely; 1. Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) 2. Uganda Young Positives (UYP) 3. Naguru Youth Health Network (NYHN) 4. Peer To Peer Uganda (PEERU) 5. Universal Health Development Foundation (UHDF) 6. Visionary Lady Foundation (VLF) We also recognize the support of other member organizations that provided moral and

technical support during the design of the research. In no particular order; 1. Uganda Youth Alliance for Family Planning and Adolescent Health (UYAFPAH) 2. YIYA Foundation 3. Youth Equality Centre (YEC) 4. African Monitor 5. Action For Foundation Change And Development (AFFCAD) 6. Uganda Youth and Adolescents Health Forum (UYAHF) 7. Public Health Ambassadors Uganda (PHAU) 8. Vijana Na Children Foundation Uganda (VINACEF) Uganda 9. Generation of Empowered Youth and Adolescents (GEYA) 10. Uganda Network of Young People Living with HIV (UNYPA) 11. Together Alive Health Initiative 12. Centre for Youth Driven Development (CFYDDI) 13. Transgender Equality Uganda (TEU) 14. Allied Youth Initiative (AYI) Our heartfelt gratitude goes to all Restless Development staff for their constant technical advice and support.

LIST OF ACRONYMS AfriYAN African Youth and Adolescents Network CAQDAS Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software CDOs Community Development Officers FGDs Focus Group Discussion KIIs Key Informant Interviews MVMR My Voice My Rights NGOs Non-Governmental Organisations PEERU Peer To Peer Uganda RAHU Reach a Hand Uganda RDU Restless Development Uganda UHDF Universal Health Development Foundation (UHDF UTIs Urinary Tract Infection

TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

I II III IV IV

1. BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION 1.2 STUDY JUSTIFICATION 1.3 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

1 2 2 2

2.1 INTRODUCTION 2.2 RESEARCH DESIGN 2.3 STUDY AREAS 2.4 DATA COLLECTION METHODS 2.5 DATA MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4 4 5 5 5

3.1 INTRODUCTION 3.2 CAUSES OF INCREASING CASES OF CHILD MARRIAGES IN EASTERN UGANDA 3.3 EFFECTS OF CHILD MARRIAGES IN COMMUNITIES 3.4 EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EXISTING SUPPORT STRUCTURES IN RESPONDING TO, AND ENDING CHILD MARRIAGES 3.5 SOLUTIONS TO ENDING PRACTICES OF CHILD MARRIAGE 3.6 CONCLUSION 3.7 RECOMMENDATIONS

7 7 15 18 20 23 23

4. APPENDICES 28 APPENDIX 1: FGD GUIDE APPENDIX 2: PARTICIPANTS SUMMARY

28 29

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The study focused on the causes of child marriages, the effectiveness of existing support structures and solutions to child marriages through the lens of young people. It was guided by the following research questions; what are the causes of the increasing cases of child marriages? What are the effects of child marriages to the communities? How effective are the existing support structures in responding to and ending child marriages? And the solutions to ending child marriages?

Research methodology

The study adopted three methodologies specifically; documents review and a youth led research methodology. Data were collected using key informant interviews (KIIs) with young people and adults. In total, 10 KIIs were conducted, 5 with young people and 5 with adults. Relatedly, all the data from KIIS and FGDs were analysed using Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) namely ATLAS.ti version 8.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The major causes of increasing cases of child marriage in Eastern Uganda included; socioeconomic and cultural factors like; poverty, that has manifested in various ways like lack of basic needs for young people that give rise to school dropouts. It was also reported from the responses that lack of enough support for the orphans, sometimes leads to child marriage. In addition, hunger has also contributed to the child marriages. Respondents across the five districts reported child abuse is a major cause of child marriages. Relatedly, low levels of education and alcoholism were equally blamed for the increase of child marriage. In relation to the effects of child marriages, the study identified marital instability, limited access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, poverty, increased crime in the communities, limited education advancement, unfulfilled dreams, and street children. Existing support structures like police, courts of laws, exiting legal frameworks, local leadership and social support systems were the core support systems that emerged from the research responses but were found to be ineffective.

The study discovered that police has stifled justice in relation to solving cases of child marriages in eastern Uganda. Solutions to end child marriage identified included; entrenchment of SRHR Programmes where respondents variously concurred that the sexual and reproductive health services should be heightened. The study recommends that; Peer education as an approach to health promotion should be upheld in the communities. Also, survivors of child marriage should be made ambassadors whose task will be to mentor other vulnerable girls and urge them and their families to reject child marriage. Parents who should be reminded about their obligatory role of supporting their children in school with school fees and all the required scholastic materials to avoid laying a foundation for child marriage in case they dropped out. In addition, Youth friendly services in form of family planning service should be provided. It also recommends that the creation of child protection committees are necessary for fighting child marriage.

1. BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH 1.1 Introduction

In 2016, UNfPA (United Nations Population Fund) initiated AfriYAN (African Youth and Adolescent Network on population and development) in an effort to involve meaningful youth participation and advocacy in policy and decision-making processes at national, regional and global levels. Since then, AfriYAN has grown into a strong movement across Eastern, Central and Southern Africa. The AfriYAN Uganda chapter is a registered network that seeks to eliminate Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) related challenges among young people today to ensure that they live a quality life. The African Youth and Adolescents Network (AfriYAN) chapter in collaboration with Restless Development Uganda and Reach a Hand Uganda (RAHU) through the “My Voice My Right” (MVMR) program conducted a qualitative Youth-Led Research in five districts of Uganda namely: Jinja, Mayuge, Buyende, Pallisa, and Buyende. The research involved 12 youth researchers selected from the five districts. The study focused on the causes of child marriages, its effects of child, and the effectiveness of existing support structures and solutions to child marriages through the lens of young people. Child marriage refers to any marriage of a child younger than 18 years, in accordance to Article 1 of the Convention on the Right of the Child. While child marriage can happen to both sexes, it disproportionately affects girls. Child marriage is now widely recognized as a violation of children’s rights and a direct form of discrimination against girls who are often deprived of their basic rights to health, education, development and equality, (UNCEF, 2012). In Uganda, Child marriage threatens to destroy the future of a generation of

Ugandan children, a new youth-led briefing paper reveals. In Uganda, one girl is at risk of child marriage every minute with nearly half of girls married before they turn 18 years (UNCEF, 2017). Similarly, 25% of adolescents aged 15-19 have begun childbearing and 19% of women aged 15-19 have given birth (UDHS, 2016). According to media reports, in Eastern Uganda, teenage pregnancy which results into child marriage, is on the rise and the situation is worse in Mayuge district where about 40% of the mothers who visit Malongo Health Center III are teenagers (Mutegeki, 2017). This means that perhaps some are either already child mothers or experiencing their first pregnancy. This teenage pregnancy is a predisposing factor to child marriage. However, this is not exceptional to the rest of the districts in Eastern Uganda. The situation isn’t any better in Butaleja district where more than 50% of the women who seek antenatal service in Butaleja Health Centre III are girls aged between 13-16 years. Pregnancy poses great risks to girls. It endangers their health and it takes a psychological toll on them. Very often forcing them to leave school, (Wagabaza, 2016). The MVMR Programme was launched in 2015, with a purpose of breaking silence on SRHR issues and recognized these services as basic human rights. The program is implemented in Uganda in partnership with AfriYAN (A network of youth-led and youth serving organisations. It aimed at increasing the number of young people who have access to SRHR services information at a local level and focuses on advocacy and policy at both local and national level.

1.2 Study justification Child marriages remains a big concern in Uganda. According to the Uganda Demographic Health Survey (UDHS) 2016 report, 25 percent of adolescents aged 15-19 have begun childbearing. Although child pregnancy declined from 31 per cent in 2001 to 24 per cent in 2011, it rose up again to 25 as reflected in the 2016 UDHS report. Statistics also show that out of the 1.2 million pregnancies that are registered annually in Uganda, 25% of them are teenage pregnancies. According to the National Population and Housing Census 2014- Main report, 42% of adolescent pregnancies are unintended (UBS 2016 Report). This state of affair has led to more young girls ending up into childbearing and early marriages when they are still young. It should be noted that Child marriage is a violation of article 16(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which says â&#x20AC;&#x153;Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spousesâ&#x20AC;?. Despite this, Uganda is ranked as the 9th Hotspot of child marriage in the world. According to regional statistics, teenage pregnancies among adolescents aged 15-19 in Eastern region stands at 34%, one of the highest in the country. This has also exposed young girls to the risk of HIV/AIDS. The research therefore

focused on these very areas that have experienced increasing cases of teenage pregnancies and child marriages including; Jinja, Mayuge, Butaleja, Pallisa and Buyende districts.

1.3 Research objectives

The objectives of the research were to: i. Explore the causes of increasing cases of child marriages in eastern Uganda ii. Explore the effects of child marriages to communities in eastern Uganda iii. Explore the effectiveness of the existing support structures in responding to and ending child marriages iv. Identify solutions to ending child marriages

1.4 Research questions

The study was guided by the following research questions: i. What are the causes of the increasing cases of child marriages? ii. What are the effects of child marriages to the communities? iii. How effective are the existing support structures in responding to and ending child marriages? iv. What are the solutions to ending child marriages?

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 2.1 Introduction

This section describes the research design, data collection methods and data analysis approach.

2.2 Research design 2.1.1 Deductive research approach

A deductive approach was adopted at the analysis stage. This involved moving from general causes of child marriage, its effects and solutions to more specifics one following logical facts and evidence emerging from the data. This was arrived at through critical interpretation of the qualitative data.

2.1.2 A case study design

A case study design enabled close examination of the data within specific contexts like geography, culture, and demographic characteristics in understanding the opinions of young people in relation to their SRHR through individualised stories.

2.1.3 Documentary or desk review There was comprehensive and extensive review of relevant literature related to the child marriage in Eastern Uganda in order to strengthen the concept of transferability in qualitative

research. Documents reviewed included previous research and project reports.

2.1.4 A youth-led research approach

A youth-led research approach was adopted in the initial stages of the study. This methodology facilitated young people to conduct research on the issues that matter to them by drawing meaningful and relevant findings. In addition, this methodology supported the sharing of findings to inform needs-response programme design and advocate for evidence-based solutions for policy formulation and resource allocation. Importantly, this methodology empowered young people to drive the inquiry process, where they were uniquely able to capture the perspectives of the young people themselves. This was premised on the belief that young people should provide important voices and evidence-based recommendations in the ongoing discussions on youth issues. The methodology is a standardized six-step approach as shown in Figure 1. Young people were involved from step 1-4 that included; setting the framework, setting the research questions. Additionally, young people participated in data analysis in a workshop where they categorized

data in form of categories, themes and emerging themes by specific respondent groups like FGDs and KIIs. The data analysis stage was supported by the consultant who also delivered a final report. Validation was led by Restless Development Uganda (RD) and supported by Reach a Hand Uganda (RAHU).

Figure 1: Youth-Led Research Process

2.3 Study areas

The research covered 5 districts in Eastern Uganda where AfriYAN partners are implementing their programmes. The corresponding districts included: Buyende, attached to Peer to Peer Uganda (PEERU); Pallisa, attached to Visionary Lady Foundation (VLF); Butaleja, attached to Universal Health Development Foundation (UHDF); Jinja, and Mayuge attached to Restless Development Uganda.

2.4 Data collection methods

Data were collected using key informant interviews (KIIs) with young people and community adults. The aim of using interviews was to explore expert knowledge in form of views, experiences, beliefs and motivations of individual participants in respect to the causes of child marriages. In total, 10 KIIs were conducted, 5 with young people that included; Peer educators and survivors of child marriage. The 5 adult Key informants were selected from Health workers, district Health Team members, and parents. Additionally, focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in the

respective districts of Jinja, Butaleja, Mayuge, Palisa and Buyende. The FGDs were conducted with young people and adults. In total 10 FGDs were conducted, 5 with young people and 5 with Adults. FGDs were used because they aided youth researchers to use group dynamic to generate data. Relatedly, they helped in generating information on collective views, and the meanings that lie behind those views. These were useful in generating a rich understanding of participantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experiences and beliefs in relation to child marriage (Berg, 2009)

2.5 Data management and analysis

All the data from KIIs and FGDs were analysed using Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) namely ATLAS.ti version 8. This software was chosen because it facilitates quick analysis of qualitative data and interpretation. Inductive and deductive coding was used from to identify evident themes and those that emerged from the raw data (MĂŠndezRomero, 2016). The steps followed in analysis are illustrated below:

Coding FGD Transcripts KII Transcripts Pictures

Importing of Transcripts into ATLAS.ti Software

Open coding Nvivo Coding Categorisation of codes in themes.

Querring data Networking responses Linking resposes Visuliasation Analysis and Interpreation

Figure 2: Steps in Analyzing Qualitative Data Using ATLAS.ti Software

2.6 Data Limitations

All the data was perception-based data. This arose from the data analysis workshop when the young researchers categorized data into research questions, themes and emerging themes by broad respondentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s categories like FGDs and KIIs. By doing this, it was impossible to link responses who their sources during analysis. Therefore, data didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily reflect lived experience of child marriage. Limited textual density. This could have arisen from the transcription or note taking stages where FGDs and KIIs notes were overly summarized. This limited strong quotations that could have backed up claims during report writing.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3.1 Introduction The findings of the study are presented in the order of the research questions that included: causes of increasing cases of child marriages, effects of child marriages to communities and the effectiveness of the existing support structures in responding to and ending child marriages. These research questions were the broad themes of the study within which other sub-themes were identified.

3.2 Causes of increasing cases of child marriages in eastern Uganda The causes of increasing cases of child marriage in Eastern Uganda were identified. These can be categorized into socio-economic and cultural factors as discussed in the preceding paragraphs.

3.2.1 Poverty and lack of basic needs Respondents expressed that child marriages were being aggravated by poverty and lack of basic needs in families. They mentioned that poverty has limited parents from providing the basic of life like food, proper shelter, scholastic materials like (books, pens, school bags), and clothes to their children. One young person in an FGD from Pallisa stressed that:

their hearts leading to child marriage. Some girls are forced to marry by their parents due to love of material support and bride wealth.”

“

to lack of money, some girls lack basic needs like pads, cloths medical care “ “Due among others, so they are easily lured by financial gifts from men who soften

Correspondingly, another young person from Jinja district stated that:

of basic needs and poverty is the best example of why early child “ “Lack marriages are at a rise in our societies”.

“

in Buyende district three adults in a FGD also believed that poverty “ Relatedly, was a major factor that is making child marriage persistent. One stressed that;

“

denial of basic needs like school fees, clothes, food, shelter, sanitary pads “ “…. among others by parents to their children as also lead to child marriage.”

“

Respondents if parents provided the necessary basic needs for their children like food, clothes, school fees shelter among others perhaps children wouldn’t be lured into child marriage. The suggestion is that that absence of poverty in families is critical in mitigating the causes of child marriages in Eastern Uganda.

Findings suggest that poverty has hindered parent from paying school fees for their children. This has triggered young people to think that perhaps they can relieve their parents of the burden by getting married. This finding emerged from across the five districts of the study. One adult key informant from Butaleja district explained that; Relatedly, In Jinja district, one adult Key informant seemed to agree and stated that;

“

Some respondents also pointed to the fact that some parents who may fail to pay for school fees for their children end up giving away their daughters into marriage in anticipation of material gains that are associated with traditional beliefs like dowry. In Buyende one adult in an FGD noted that; This suggests that poverty has continued to affect families in Eastern Uganda. Therefore, some young people could easily fall prey to child marriage through false hope that they will live better lives.

School dropouts

“because of poverty, parents have no money for school fees, what they do is to give away the children in exchange for wealth even when children are still young”.

“

“early marriages are also caused by poverty among the children. May dropout of school due to lack of school fees that may encourage them to just marry”.

“…lack of school fees gets some people thinking that since my parents lack money there is nothing am doing at home so let me just get married.”

“

Lack of school fees

The study discovered that failure by parents to cater for the basic needs of their children has increased their susceptibility to drop out of school due to failure to have basic needs catered for. One Key informant from Butaleja district asserted that:

“

“School dropout as a result of parents fail to rise school fees for the child, has also led to child marriage in the way that, when the child stays idle at home, they prefer marring rather than being controlled anyhow”.

In addition to dropping out of this school due to poverty and failure to have basic needs, some girls are lured to get married under the pretext of being promised to be taken back to school as one respondent from Palisa district explained,

“

“some parents are willing to support the children to go to school, but they don’t have financial support for instance one of their daughters was willing to for hair dressing, but the mother and the father can’t afford taking her to school as a result this girl will marry when a man promises to take her to school”.

This suggests that poverty and child marriage are interlinked this is because children who drop out of school due to poverty and the same factor seems to push them further into child marriage. This could then suggest that dealing with poverty is a first step in fight against child marriage in Eastern Uganda.

Hunger

In eastern Uganda, hunger has also contributed to the child marriages. Respondents unanimously agreed in the five districts that families have increasingly rationed meals. Some have even chosen to have one meal per day. This has left the children at the mercy of those who can help as intimated in the excerpt below:

“

“Food insecurity in homes also makes the parents to give away their children for marriage to better off homes so that they can reduce the number of children at home and reduce expenditures on them in anticipation of getting materials support from in-laws”

(KII, Buyende district). Similarly, hunger in schools was equally a big concern in Eastern Uganda. It perpetuates high school dropout rates according to responses from FGDs. There is lack of midday meals at school yet even parents face a big challenge of feeding their children at home. One young Key informant from Pallisa district expressed that:

“

“Hunger makes young people get married, having many children, you cannot feed means you end up marrying off the girls, in the end the family saves food for feeding the rest at home”.

Girls face a huge risk of early and forced marriage as families struggle to survive. Many families see it as a coping mechanism as it relieves them of the responsibility of feeding children. They also anticipate to receive bride wealth in form of money or livestock, which presumably improves their chances of survival.

3.2.2 Socio-cultural causes.

The study also revealed that socio-cultural factors were also responsible for child marriage in the five districts of Jinja, Mayuge, Buyende, Pallisa, and Buyende as analysed and discussed below;

Orphaned children

Some young people who are orphaned are seems to be at risk of child marriage. One young respondent from an FGD from Butaleja district explained that.

“

“The death of parents leads to child marriage…. this makes it hard for young people to afford basic needs like medical care, food, clothes hence they opt to get married so that they can help the young ones”.

“

“If a girl loses parents while in primary, the grand parents may take care of that child but cannot provide all the necessities which may force her into an early marriage”.

This was confirmed by a young person from Butaleja district who said that:

The vulnerability created by the death of parents leaves children at the mercy of relatives and community members. The vulnerability in form of lack of basic needs and care seems to be a cause of child marriages.

Lack of menstrual hygiene materials

Respondents perceive lack of menstrual hygiene materials as a big challenge across the five districts and linked it to child marriage. One young person in an FGD from Pallisa district stated that;

“

“When you lack pads and you meet a boy/man. A man can accept to buy for you but at the back of his mind, he will be after sex. So after providing for whatever you need, he will ask for sex and in the process you might get pregnant”.

Therefore, it is not just that some young struggled to survive due inadequate needs caused by poverty of their parents. They also struggled with menstrual hygiene materials. There is a community perception that failure to manage menstruation by young girls has led to child marriage. Inadequate and congested housing facilities Findings from FGDs in Butaleja and Buyende districts indicated that there is an acute shortage of proper housing facilities. Families live in congested houses. It was reported that in some homes, extended families live in two roomed houses. This compels them to share rooms with their children. One adult in an FGD from Butaleja stressed that:

“

“Lack of enough shelter has led to child marriage. In some homes for example, the extended families have two or one room house were the children end up mixing with the opposite sex and developing sexual relationships while young, sometimes whatever the parents do in their beds are imitated by their children.”

Parental neglect

Across the five districts, respondents concurred that negligence by the able parents to provide the needs of their children makes children feel rejected which forces them to look for alternative ways through which they may be feel loved. Relatedly, parents have neglected their core role of guidance and counseling of their children. In an FGD with young people in Butaleja district one, participant noted: “Lack of guidance and counseling has led to child marriages because children don’t have information about the disadvantages of child marriage”.

Child abuse

Respondents across the five districts reported child abuse is a major cause of child marriages in eastern Uganda. Child abuse included child labour, mistreatment of orphans through corporal punishments, and mistreatment by step mothers. Another form of abuse reported included denial of food. This forces children to look for peace by getting marriage early as asserted by one of the participants: “Some children are mistreated by their relatives. This prompts them to go and marry hoping they will get peace in their homes” (KII, Butaleja District).

Child labour

Respondents also indicated that young people are engaged in child labour, this was attested by a one adult Key informant from Butaleja district who intimated that: “There is child labour in Busoga region. Children are being used to earn a living during school hours, some are being sent to scare birds from rice in the schemes while other work in sugar plantations. When children earn some money from rice harvesting, they become uncontrollable and they end up marrying.”

This is a negative perception that children become unruly when they start earning when young. What may be true is that such children may be tempted to get into early marriages since they think they can afford to sustain a family.

Failure to manage adolescence stage

In Butaleja and Buyende districts, the concern of failure to manage changes that come with adolescence stage came out in a focus group with young people and by some key informants. One respondent from Butaleja from a focus group discussion admitted that: “Sexual desire (libido), forces young people to engage in risky sexual behaviour. They eventually go for marriage where sex is a daily routine.”

This response highlights failure by some young people to control sexual emotions during puberty. It also indicates limited awareness about sexual and reproductive health information.

Low levels of education

Respondents from Butaleja, Buyende Mayuge and Pallisa districts stated that low levels of education by parents lead to unemployment and lack of sustainability at home, which forces some parents to marry off their daughters. A respondent from Mayuge district mentioned that: “Parents do not value education, even those in school aren’t given the necessary support to keep them there. Parents actually don’t even follow up their children’s performance and also knowing whether the children get to school or not. This gives children freedom to do what they want hence leading to child marriage.”

This response clearly demonstrates the negative perception attached to education. This lack of concern by parents in their children’s lives can perpetuate the vice of child marriages in Busoga region.

Giving birth to many children

Furthermore, respondents variously mentioned that the birth of many children in Busoga region is a predisposer for child marriages. Relatedly, a consensus was built around low uptake of family planning services. One respondents from Pallisa district mentioned that: “Lack of family planning is responsible for the reproduction of many children. In some families parents don’t plan for the number of children they will have. This results to failure in meeting their needs as children, so they end up forcing the children who may not have necessarily have grown up to marry so that they can bring material wealth to support the family”.

This response indicates that large families strain the bread winners financially. Therefore, any opportunity that brings in income or wealth in a family is always welcomed. Teenage pregnancy Young people in a focus group in Jinja district emphasized that: “many girls are pushed into marriage after conceiving”.

They further stated that, “while some parents can handle, others cannot and actually get so bitter with their children and may end up forcing them to get married to whoever impregnated them”.

This was concretized by a victim of child marriage who intimated that: “I was actually forced into marriage by my dad after I got pregnant because he claimed I was now a disgrace”.

The implication is that teenage pregnancies is a precursor to child marriage since some parents may use it as an excuse to marry off their daughters. However, this casts light on the existing negative societal misconception about how expectant young people and young mothers should be treated.

Cultural beliefs

Respondents described various facets of cultural norms, beliefs and practices tailored to their specific contexts. For example, among the Banyole in Butaleja district there is a belief that some children chosen by the spirits may not be allowed to go attend school. Therefore, the repercussions of missing school may be child marriages. Relatedly, one adult key informant stated that: “Among us the Banyole, if the girl is above 16 years, they say that one is already for marriage and they begin pressurizing her to get married”.

In Jinja district, one FGD participant focused on the perception about circumcision by the Bagisu and stated that: “Circumcision causes some youths to have a belief that they are mature enough and fully developed to engage in sexual relations and start families”.

Local customs and social norms serve as a source of child marriage influenced by perceptions held by the community members. Amongst others, there are perceptions about the proper age for a girl to be married as the understanding that a woman should be submissive, that’s why she should be married young.

Belief that girls have no right to education

girls are viewed as properties, unable to think for themselves and with no rights to education. This explains why one respondent in Butaleja district explained that: “….. some parents do not prefer educating girls because they think it will benefit the family she is going to marry as a result staying at home they end up marring before the age of 18 years”.

Another reason was given in full justification of the above assertion by a key informant from Pallisa who stated that: “A girl child is meant to be inferior to the boy child, so the girl is denied education in favor of the boy hence early marriage according to the Teso culture”.

This is also linked to the fact that a girl is not fit to be educated since she is going to be married. This reality presents us with both a challenge and an opportunity. First, to urgently address the problem of child marriage and gender inequality and women empowerment in totality. Alcoholism Throughout the five districts under study alcoholism was singled out as major contributor to child marriages. According to one respondent: “Some parents after drinking alcohol, they become very quarrelsome and abusive, and they start attacking everyone making the environment unfavorable for the young and this promotes domestic violence at home thus influencing the young children to go and marry.”

Clearly, respondents stressed that

Perhaps what should be sieved out of this finding is that alcohol facilitates domestic or gender-based violence and limits the supply of basic needs in such families. This causes a hostile environment for the children who may be force to look for safe havens.

Marital conflicts

Findings indicated that misunderstandings leading to divorce and separation of parents were children are raised by unemployed single mothers makes it hard for children to be provided for. Thus breeding ground for child marriage. One respondent confirmed that: “Domestic violence especially in polygamous families whereby step mothers tend to over punish their step children like making them to over work. This makes these children to get tired of staying in their own homes so they decide to go in for marriage”.

The implication of these findings is that children may find it difficult to live in a hostile environment which may push them to into early marriages.

Polygamous families

Respondents across all contexts mentioned polygamy as a driver to child marriages in eastern Uganda. Since this practice was found to be common, it’s contribution to child marriage was emphasised by a participant in an FGD in Butaleja district: “…in polygamous families some men fail to sustain their homes with basic

needs…. some parents still have a negative attitude towards educating girls since they have many children from different women”.

The expectation of a polygamous marriage is a high number of children. The inability to provide the needs to such high families has constantly put pressure on the heads of the family (husbands.) There used to be a measure of a “real man” in the African context. The above problems often led to conflicts in the family and in advanced cases to family break-ups. Which may occasion child marriages.

Religious teachings

A number of community members reportedly believe that child marriage is a positive part of life and tradition and prepares girls for life. These same community members also tend to prescribe particular roles for women and girls, with an emphasis on childbearing and housekeeping. Besides, the interpretation that marriage is a rite of passage bringing girls to womanhood is misleading.

3.3 Effects of child marriages in communities The effects of child marriages in Eastern Uganda were found to be economic, social and psychological to the victims, family and the community. The findings are discussed in the subsequent paragraphs.

Marital instability

Across all the districts, respondents concurred that child marriage in the communities have escalated marital instablility. These are manifested in form of violence in homes. One respodent in an FGD from Pallisa stated that; “…failure to sustain the pressure of family affairs has made children who marry when they are young to divorce”.

Correspondingly, in another FGD, another adult stressed that: “It has led to domestic violence when the girls are mistreated physically through beatings, this has led to psychological torture for example in situations whereby a man marries another woman yet sharing the same house”.

This can be brought about by age differences between the couple that can cause divorce and separation. Relatedly, the girls are married to men who are much older than them who befitting to be called their fathers. This generation gap has is responsible for the continued marital instabilities because of failure to understand each other’s needs.

Limited sexual and reproductive health services

an FGD stated that: “…. child marriages have brought about high mortality rates that’s why many young girls die while giving birth in the community because of the high risks, some of them don’t seek health care while pregnant for fear of stigmatization”.

This means that the risk associated with child marriages are heightened by generally poor access to contraception and sexual and reproductive services. It means that girls in child marriages are unable to control their fertility.

Poverty

In all districts under study, respondents unanimously concurred that child marriages lead to household poverty. In Pallisa, one young person in an FGD specified that: “Child marriage increases poverty in the community where by sometimes the burdens are pushed to the parents who are already poor.”

The fact is that child brides are more likely to be poor and remain poor, since they might not have gone to school or may have dropped out due to various reasons. Besides, giving a daughter in marriage allows parent s parents suffering from poverty to reduce family expenses because it means one less person to feed, clothe and educate.

There are many negative health consequences of child marriage. Girls who marry young are often unable to use or access contraception and quickly become pregnant. Because girls aren’t physically and biologically Increased crime in the prepared to give birth, it has put them communities at a risk of premature labour, abortion, While poverty was found to be a complications in giving birth and critical contributor to child marriage, maternal deaths. One respondent in it has also contributed to increase

in crime in the communities. One respondent from Mayuge district said that:

“It has brought about theft in the community where by the poor boy who can’t afford to buy necessities like food, medical care so he ends up stealing things like bicycles, motor cycles to go and sell to get money to meet needs”.

Similar, in Butaleja district in a FGD with young people. One stated that; “High crime rates like stealing for survival, prostitution is evident in this Butaleja because some young people in child marriage are unemployed”.

Increase in crime can be attributed to many factors in society. Perhaps, it would also be true to couples who marry young due to the inability to sustain their families.

Spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV Across all geographical contexts, participants emphasized that child marriages have increased the spread of STIs including HIV. Respondents in FGDs stressed that:

“It has increased the spread of diseases like HIV/AIDS because most of these young children don’t go for blood test before marriage. They don’t have enough knowledge about their health rights”.

These young people easily get sexual reproductive problems like STIs, UTIs, and HIV/AIDs due to their inability to access youth friendly health services in health facilities. Limited education advancement When young people drop out of school for marriage, it perpetuates a vicious

cycle of illiteracy as reported by the respondents. One key informant from Butaleja mentioned that: “Child marriage leads to high levels of illiteracy because most children drop out of school without going to high levels of education…. The community will lack skilled labor like doctors, teachers among others”.

Therefore, since education is a basic human right and essential for socio economic transformation. Communities with high levels of child marriages cannot reap such benefits. Child marriage is a major barrier to progress on the girl child education.

unfulfilled dreams

Child marriages are nurturing a generation of unproductive youth since they are mostly uneducated and less skilled. This impedes their positioning in the productive labour market in Uganda. It was reported by an adult in an FGD from Jinja district who said that: “It has led to shattered dreams of the future of children who are married off early because they end up dropping out school, so they tend not be purposeful people”.

More than anything else, early marriage deprives girls of their childhood. They are driven into the full burden of domestic responsibility, motherhood and sexual relations rather than playing with friends, visualizing about a career or worrying about a school exam. Young married girls move away from their parents’ home to live with their husband and his family, where they have no friends, no support, and little say in their own lives or in household matters.

Psychological effects

Girls who had married young were reported to have been depressed. They found it difficult to associate with their colleagues since their marriages were stained with challenges. Similarly, depression was attributed to regrets as young people continuously admire their counterparts still in school.

Street children

There was a percepetion that street children have increased in Jinja, Buyende, Pallisa, Mayuge and Butaleja districts due to child marriages. Young parents tend to neglect their children because of inability to cater for their needs. One young person from Buyende FGD detailed that: “…. child marriage has led to increased number of street children in the community since parents cannot provide all the basic needs”.

Since they are also children, young or immature mothers exercise less guidance and control over their children, and have less ability to make decisions about their nutrition, health care and household management. This can perpetuate the problem of street children in such communities.

3.4 Effectiveness of the existing support structures in responding to, and ending child marriages Existing support structures like police, courts of laws, exiting legal frameworks, local leadership and social support systems were the core support systems that emerged from the research responses:

Police

The study discovered that police has stifled justice in relation to solving cases of child marriages in eastern Uganda. From of the FGD in Mayuge district, one respondent complained that: “Corruption in the police is rampant……. they close the cases of child marriage after receiving bribes…. this gives perpetrators of child marriage freedom to continue with the practice without.

In addition, another adult in an FGD from Buyende District noted that: “Police hides files of the victims after being paid money, they then keep on postponing until the accused is released on police bond”.

Generally, there is a perception that police usually ask for money from victims to transport or apprehend perpetrators of child or forced marriages. Although, this is not a formal police practice, they are forced to do this because of lack of transport or fuel in the several police posts and stations not only in eastern Uganda but, the rest of the country. Similarly, Police was reported to be reluctant in handling cases of child marriage. One parent who thought would use police to scare and counsel her daughter out of marriage was left in disbelief when she took her daughter to police. “One of the parent took her real daughter out of marriage, reported the case to police and took her daughter to be arrested but they claimed that her daughter was already spoilt, she then took the daughter back to police for the second and third time but police could not help with regards to punishing the girl” (adult FGD, Butaleja

district). 18

This paints a picture that some parents are aware of the dangers of child marriage but, are frustrated by the existing support systems that out to have helped them fight against the practice.

Local leadership

The local leadership was found to be settling cases of child marriage out of court. This was noted from several FGDs conducted. This was because of poverty and fear of stigmatization by society and the anticipated financial benefits promised by perpetrators. As a result, poverty is hindering the implementation of the law against child marriage. However, one of the respondent from Butaleja district emphasized that: “Corruption of some leaders for example some chairpersons take bribes…. This therefore, renders the laws infective…. they encourage both parents to dialogue”.

Regardless of the loopholes in the local leaderships’ role in fighting child marriage, some locals are vigilant. This was affirmed by one respondent from Mayuge district who narrated that: “There was a time when five people were involved in negotiations about their children’s early marriage and someone reported…. They were arrested…. these were the girl, boy, LC1, and the fathers to the two children.”

The communities need to develop such community groups in each village to scout against the practice. Effectiveness of the existing laws and policies The law against child marriage was found to be ineffective. According to the responses from one FGD participant from Jinja district, it was stressed that:

“The laws are not effective because there are some people that the LC1 chairperson is aware of forcing their children to marry so that they are given money…”

Therefore, much as the Uganda Constitution (1995) and the Penal Code set the legal age at 18 and Chapter 4 provide for the protection and promotion of fundamental and other human rights and freedoms for all Ugandan citizens with focus on the protection of women and girls, this is far from being achieved. Additionally, Article 31 also provides for the rights to marriage and family formation, but criminalizes child marriage. Nevertheless, the already existing laws are not enforced and implemented, instead, traditional and religious laws often marriage on the onset of puberty. This puts young girls at a risk of child marriage.

3.5 Solutions to ending practices of child marriage

Throughout the study, key informant interviews and focus group discussions, the following solutions to end child marriage in Eastern Uganda were suggested: Expansion of SRHR Programmes Respondents variously concurred that the sexual and reproductive health services should be heightened. One key informant from Jinja district asserted that: “family planning service should be introduced such that if young girls are sexually active, they should be encouraged to use family planning methods like condoms and pills such that even if they have sex they will not conceive.

Relatedly, another young person from an FGD in Buyende district stated that:

“girls should be encouraged to stay in school by their parents”.

“The hospitals should give out condoms to avoid pregnancy…. if you become pregnant, your parents will tell you go and marry because they cannot take care of you and your child”.

This comes at the backdrop of negative perception about the girl education in Eastern Uganda. One young person in an FGD in Buyende district confirmed it when she narrated that:

All components of sexual reproductive health should be strengthened in Eastern Uganda, these safe motherhood, family planning, adolescent health and prevention and management of unsafe abortion, others are prevention are prevention of reproductive health tract infections.

Promote Community awareness campaigns about dangers of child marriage

From the study, it was suggested that the community should be sensitized about the dangers of child marriage. One respondent from Butaleja district thought that: “There should be sensitization sessions to the youth to create awareness on the dangers of child marriage and inspire them to complete their studies which can lead to the development of, the community”.

In addition, it was suggested that Governments should teach the parents to take charge of their children by reporting such cases of child marriage to police.

Facilitate and foster girl-child education

“in my village, there was a man who was elected to make sure he moves in all villages homes to make sure no child stays home during school days, if found, parents would get arrested or caned….educating children helps to delay children from getting married at an early age.

Girls are powerful agents of socioeconomic transformation and change. Keeping girls in school enables them to participate in formal labour markets which enhances their incomes in the long run.

Strengthen Economic empowerment initiatives

To reduce household poverty, respondents suggested that vocational skills be taught to young people in child marriage since most of them are school dropouts. In Buyende one respondent suggested that; “Vocational institutions should be put in community to enable orphans and people who cannot afford higher education acquire different skills”.

Economic empowerment of girls and their families is critical to keeping girls in school and ending child marriage. Income generating activities should be taken up so as to generate sustainable incomes.

From Pallisa district one Key informant emphasized that 20

Prioritize Mindset change programmes

Mindset change programmes should be aimed at shifting perceptions about child marriage. However, changing mindsets is a gradual process, it should be embraced. One key informant from Buyende suggested that: “children’s mindsets should be set to start thinking about what they want to become in future like being a doctor, this will keep them in school and study hard to archive instead of thinking about getting married while young”.

Although, this is a good suggestion, it requires a multifaceted approach by parents, teachers, local leaders and government.

Collaborative initiatives and interventions by Civils Society Organizations

The study also recognizes that NGOs should play role in ending child marriage in Eastern Uganda. It was reported that some NGOs like Red Cross and Plan International are providing necessities for young people. One of the respondent’s words it was mentioned that: “NGOs have set up projects to help those children who with basic skills like mat making, basketry among others for survival. Such projects include girl empowerment by plan international. Red Cross at times carryout camps, outreaches and tours for instance they take the young girls, even when you go there you get chance to talk to those people enjoy and have fun and you don’t think about those bad things”.

Such initiatives by NGOs are contributing to poverty reduction through building

sustainable livelihoods. Correspondingly, were implored to continue sensitizing children and parents about the benefits of education so that they can keep their children in school exposing the dreadful effects of child marriage. NGOs like plan international and Red cross were applauded for providing necessities like sanitary pads, sets, school fees and bursary schemes.

Set up and support Child Protection Committees

Given the magnitude of child marriage in Eastern Uganda, the study recognized that communities should form vigilante groups to scout cases of child marriages. A respondent from Mayuge district in a Focus of adults asserted that: “We call upon agencies like NGOs and government to put in community’s strong spy network to secretly investigate and make follow up of cases of child marriage”.

This initiative would promote collective responsibility of communities to actively participate in the stoppage of the practice. In addition, it was also suggested that: “Community members should take the trouble to council and guide children as well as punishing them for the mistakes committed……this will help instill discipline in the children since they will be knowing that every elder is watching. Community members should further take equal measures in influencing these follow up cases of child marriage and take effectives measures”.

Although, this solution was suggested by many participants, its implementation across the board would require systematic planning by the local leadership. 21

Initiate policy influence advocacy to achieve Legal and Policy reforms Uganda has a good legal framework aimed at fighting child marriage. However, there still exist loopholes in the laws as many respondents reported. for example, the Marriage Act of 1904 which allows marriage below the age of 21 years as long as a letter of consent is given by parents/ guardians. The Customary Marriages Act 1973 sets the age of consent at 16 years for girls and 18 years for boys. Additionally, existing laws to prevent gender discrimination and child marriage are poorly enforced and more concerted effort by stakeholders across many areas is needed to enforce the upholding of these laws.

Strengthen Youth mentorship programmes An emerging theme from the study was the need to need to have youth mentorship programmes. This was emphasized more in Pallisa district by one adult in an FGD who stressed that:

“…. getting young friends from around the world who will always talk to them, encourage and mentor them and also inspiring them and sometimes inviting them for holiday in their country, with this the children will also feel inspired to stay in school such that they go to America or be like their friends who were taken to America”.

Youth mentorship, can reduce on the incidences of child marriage in Eastern Uganda. They can be championed by the local leadership or NGOs. The core function being to

inspire and advocate for marriage after school.

3.6 Conclusion

Child marriage in Eastern Uganda was found to be triggered by several factors among which include; poverty, ignorance, socio-cultural beliefs, norms and practice as well ineffectiveness of the existing support structures meant to fight the vice. It should be noted that the existing solutions to end child marriages suggested were Expansion of SRHR programmes, promotion of community awareness campaigns about dangers of child marriage, facilitation girlchild education, strengthening economic empowerment initiatives, prioritization of mindset change programmes, collaboration initiatives and interventions by civils society organizations, setting up and support child protection committees, initiation of policy influence advocacy to achieve legal and policy reforms and the strengthening of youth mentorship programmes. The target audiences for these solutions are the families, community members and policy makers. Its therefore, the interest of everyone that this problem is dealt with.

3.7 Recommendations

The following recommendations emerged from the study by various categories of respondents. The recommendations are for; young people, parents, District local government leaders, police, and religious and cultural leaders. • Young people Peer education as an approach to

health promotion should be upheld in the communities. This approach shall promote change among peers. This is because through this approach, the teaching or sharing of health information, values and behavior in educating others who may share similar life experiences against child experiences has been linked to positive behavioral outcomes worldwide. The in-school and outof-school peer educators should therefore be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge on child marriage. Survivors of child marriage should be made ambassadors whose task will be to mentor other vulnerable girls and urge them and their families to reject child marriage. These can use their own bad experiences from their marriages in discouraging their peers from falling prey to the same ordeal. As suggested by various respondents, this study also recommends that mindset change programmes or projects should be rolled out in the communities. This should be done through positive messages through mass media that talk about the

benefits of staying in school. â&#x20AC;˘ Parents Parents should be reminded about their obligatory role of supporting their children in school with school fees and all the required scholastic materials to avoid setting a foundation for child marriage in case they dropped out of school. Nevertheless, financially vulnerable parents should be supported with income generating knowledge for economic empowerment. The study recommends that parents should be sensitized on their roles as first line counselors for their children. This should be aimed at reducing the social disconnection between young people and their parents. Therefore, being upon minded in communicating broader sexuality issues is what should be encouraged as to reduce the communication gap. â&#x20AC;˘ District leaders District leaders should make sure that youth friendly services in form of family planning services should be provided by health facilities in

Eastern Uganda in form of sexual and reproductive health information. This will help young people to access health services that are responsive and specific to their needs. These may include contraceptives to safe guard against teenage pregnancy. From the study findings, the creation of child protection committees tasked with fighting child marriage should be formed. The vigilante groups or committees should be to safe guard and promote the right to education, violence, neglect and safeguarding against child marriage. These groups should be part of each Local Council with clear terms of reference. At district level, role models should be identified and used as change agents in the communities to fight against child marriage. These may be

young people (girls) who successfully finished their University education and are perhaps employed. Their success stories can be used to change community perceptions about child marriage. Community dialogues in rural areas where girls are more prone to teenage pregnancies and child marriage should be given priority so as to create awareness about the dangers of child marriage. These dialogues should bring together various stakeholders like district leaders, religious leaders, policy makers, peer educators and young people among others. The aim should be geared towards discussing the dangers of child marriage using testimonial evidence from survivors so as to discourage the practice.

24 â&#x20AC;˘ Police The police should teach the law through school outreaches and community dialogues. For example, Article 31 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda stipulates that the legal consent age for marriage is 18 years and above. Also, The Penal Code (amendment) Act (CAP 120) 2007, section 129 stipulates that any person who performs a sexual act with another person below the age of 18 years commits an offence (defilement) and is liable to life imprisonment; or a death sentence if the offence is committed with a child below 14 years, is infected with HIV/AIDS, or the perpetrator is a parent or guardian, is a person in authority, a serial offender and where the victim is a person with disability (aggravated defilement). The laws protect girls from early sex and penalise coerced sexual intercourse and forced marriages. Therefore, Police should implement such polices and laws that seek to protect children has noted to fuel child marriages in the selected districts of study through arresting and the culprits and forwarding the files for prosecution if the offenders are adults.

â&#x20AC;˘ Religious and cultural leaders Religious and cultural leaders should be part of child marriage campaign programmes because they are opinion leaders who are respected. Although, there are strong religious beliefs and cultural customs and norms, the leaders have the powers to change the communities. However, changing cultural beliefs is a gradual process that starts with dialogue. NGOs NGOs should hold sensitizations to the children and parents about the benefits of education and also come up with more child motherhood intervention programmes like vocational training for child mothers to enable them acquire entrepreneurial skills for economic empowerment. They should also advocate for better service provision for child mothers. In addition, NGOs should also strengthen SHHR campaigns through building capacity of youth teachers, health workers and all youth based organisations (CBOs) in the study districts to increases access and use of SRHR Services and information by young people.

References Berg BL, (2009). Qualitative Research Methods for Social Sciences. Allyn and Bacon Boston http://restlessdevelopment.org/our-youth-led-research-methodology-1 Méndez Romero, R. A. (2016). Qualitative data analysis with ATLAS.ti [Book Review]. Qualitative Research in Education, 5(2) 226-228. doi:10.17583.qre.2016.2120 Mutegeki (2017). Taking war on teenage pregnancy, early marriage to Busoga. https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1460473/taking-war-teenagepregnancy-marriage-busoga Uganda Bureau of Statistics - UBOS and ICF, (2018). Uganda Demographic and Health Survey 2016. Kampala, Uganda and Rockville, Maryland, USA: UBOS and ICF. Uganda Bureau of Statistics, (2016).The National Population and Housing Census 2014 – Main Report, Kampala, Uganda UNCEF, (2012). A Note of Child Marriage. https://www.unicef.org/policyanalysis/files/Note_on_Child_Marriage.pdf UNICEF, (2017). The State of the World’s Children 2017 Wagabaza (2016). Butaleja men marrying off daughters to buy waragi. https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1443100/butaleja-marrying-daughterswaragi Walsh, I., Holton, J. A., Bailyn, L., Fernandez, W., Levina, N., & Glaser, B. (2015). “What grounded theory is… a critically reflective conversation among scholars,” Organizational Research Methods 18(4), Sept. 2015, pp. 620-628.

1. Appendices Appendix 1: FGD Guide

Primary Questions

Young people ( 10-24 years)

For District Leaders, Teachers Parents, Police, religious leaders, health workers & CSOs

What is causing the increasing cases of child marriage?

What is causing child marriage in your community? Who are the main actors, Why and How? How have the cases of child marriage changed overtime? What is the perception of young people on child marriage? What is the perception of parents on child marriage? Which social/cultural/ norms have led to the increasing cases of child marriage? and how How is lack of necessities leading to child marriage? How has bride wealth contributed to the increasing cases of child marriage? What are some of the cases/incidences of child marriage that have happened in your communities?

What is causing child marriage in your community? Who are the main actors, Why and How? How have the cases of child marriage changed overtime? What is the perception of young people on child marriage? What is the perception of parents on child marriage? Which social/cultural/ norms have led to the increasing cases of child marriage? and how? How is lack of necessities leading to child marriage? How has bridewealth contributed to the increasing cases of child marriage? What are some of the cases/incidences of child marriage that have happened in your communities?

How is child marriage affecting people in this community?

In your own experience how has child marriage affected the lives of young people in this community? How is having babies at an early age viewed by parents and relatives ? How is having babies at an early age viewed by young people/peer groups,

How is having babies at an early age viewed by authorities ? How is your community affected by child marriage? How has child marriage affected your family

How is having babies at an early age viewed by authorities ? How is your community affected by child marriage? ? How has child marriage affected your family

How effective are the existing support structures in responding to and ending cases of child marriage.

What is your experience of reporting cases of child marriage? What are some for the existing laws concerning child marriage? What do you think should be done to strengthen the laws? Which support is available in your community to stop or respond to child marriage? What are the roles of the existing support structures in ending child marriage? In your opinion how has the police and probation office supported the community in ending child marriage? Which stakeholders working to end cases of child marriage in this community? Share your experience. Which support structures/ programmes are proving to be effective in ending child marriage and why

? What is your experience of reporting cases of child marriage?

How can we end the practice of child marriage

In your own opinion what can be done to stop child marriage in your District and how? Do you think providing necessities is a solution to child marriage, how? What role would you like the community members (parents) to play ending child marriage

In your own opinion what can be done to stop child marriage in your District and how. Do you think providing necessities is a solution to child marriage, how? What role would you like the community members (parents) to play ending child marriage

What plans are in place to respond to and end case child marriage in this District? how effective are they? What District policies or bi-laws are in place to end child marriage, how effective are they? What do you think should be done to strengthen the laws? Which stakeholders working to end cases of child marriage in this community? Share your experience? Which support structures/programmes are proving to be effective in ending child marriage and why

How do you see your role in ending child marriage? What role would you like the government (police, probation office) to play in ending child marriage ? If all these mechanisms are put in place, will it end child marriage? If yes how, If no why?

How do you see your role in ending child marriage? What role would you like the government (police, probation office) to play in ending child marriage? If all the above mechanisms are put in place, will it end child marriage? If yes how, If no why?

Appendix 2: Participants summary

FGDs with stakeholders DHT Members

Peers Focal HWs

SSI/KIIs

Parents

Male

Female

2 2 2

5 5 5

3 3 3

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Persons

District Sub counties Butaleja Mazi masa 2 2 2 2 Budumba 2 2 2 2 Kachonga 2 2 2 2 Busolwe Town Council 2 2 2 2 Busaba 2 2 2 2 Pallisa Augule Subcounty 2 2 2 2 Akisim Subcounty 2 2 2 2 Apopong Subcounty 2 2 2 2 Kasodo subcounty 2 2 2 2 Palisa Town council 2 2 2 2 Buyende Buyende Subcounties 2 2 2 2 Bugaya Subcounties 2 2 2 2 Kagulu subcounty 2 2 2 2 Kidera Subcounty 2 2 2 2 Nkondo Subcounty. 2 2 2 2 Mayuge Baitambogwe 2 2 2 2 Kityerera 2 2 2 2 Immanyiro 2 2 2 2 Malongo 2 2 2 2 Kigandalo 2 2 2 2 Jinja Budondo 2 2 2 2 Buyengo 2 2 2 2 Mafubira 2 2 2 2 Butagaya 2 2 2 2 Buwenge Rural 2 2 2 2 Total

FGDs-YP

50 50 50 50 50 130 130