Lira, Uganda | The Paramount Chief of Lango, Eng. Dr. Michael Moses Odongo Okune has urged young girls in the region to abstain from sexual activity as a way of reducing teenage pregnancies and child marriages.
Speaking at Mentor Senior Secondary School – St. Magdalene Campus, Barogole in Lira City at a three-day conference organised by the Agong Foundation, Okune announced an incentive to encourage abstinence, stating that he would give a cow to any girl who refrains from sexual activity until she finds a suitable partner for marriage.
He explained that the initiative was intended to empower girls to prioritise education and long-term goals over early and forced marriages, noting that abstaining from sex would also lower the risk of teenage pregnancies, which can prevent girls from completing school and achieving their objectives.
The conference focused on the well-being of the girl child, covering sexual and reproductive health, leadership skills, traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and marriage.
Ruth Moses Ogwal, a midwife at Alito Health Centre III in Kole District, highlighted that girls were tested, immunised against cervical cancer, and educated about the risks of early sexual activity.
She added that participants were encouraged to return to their communities and share the knowledge with their peers.
Bishop of Lira Diocese, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok praised the chief’s initiative but expressed concern about rising drug abuse among the youth.
He revealed that he had rescued 380 children from the streets, many of whom were affected by substance abuse, and called for closer collaboration between the church and cultural institutions to tackle the problem.
Simon Odepe, First Deputy Prime Minister of Lango Cultural Institution, attributed early sexual activity among children to poverty and commended the Agong Foundation for its efforts to educate and empower young people.
Deputy Resident City Commissioner Stephen Odongo urged communities to take an active role in combating domestic violence, while Deputy Resident District Commissioner Abang Beatrice Molly Kia highlighted that some cultural practices and leaders hinder efforts to prevent child marriage by concealing cases from authorities, making it difficult for security agencies to act.
Margret Odongo Okune, the chief’s wife and founder of the Agong Foundation, expressed gratitude for the support from government, church, and cultural stakeholders, and emphasised the need for continued partnerships to ensure initiatives benefiting young people in Lango are sustained.
The conference reflected growing concern over the welfare of girls in Lango and underscored the importance of combined community, cultural, and institutional efforts to address teenage pregnancy, child marriage, and youth substance abuse.
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