Government officials clash over contraceptive policy for 15 year old girls

The Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development has distanced itself from the Ministry of Health's plan to provide contraception to 15-year-old females in order to prevent teenage pregnancy.

Dr. Charles Olaro, the Ministry of Health's director for curative services, was previously quoted as saying that the strategy is aimed at out-of-school youths and young adults.

According to Sarah Mateke, Minister of State for Children Affairs, the government is not part of the plan to have girls of this age begin taking birth control methods advised for adults.

Mateke, in her message during the International Day of the Girl Child, asked for a comprehensive review of the policy that included all stakeholders.

Members of Parliament also rejected the idea to implement birth control measures among adolescent females yesterday, calling it "devilish."

Thomas Tayebwa, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, linked the plan to legitimising sexual abuse in Uganda, urging the administration to reject the concept.

“We pray that the devil doesn’t find his way and such thoughts should never come into the minds of our people because it would imply that we have given up on our girl children by formalising defilement. That is clearly saying we have failed. We would rather strengthen the monitoring to ensure that we fight this vice but not legitimise it by giving such services, and I am glad it isn’t yet a policy,” Tayebwa posted on his X account on Tuesday.

International Day of the Girl Child (IDG) – observed annually on 11 October – is a global platform to advocate for the full spectrum of girls’ rights.