Minister rescues nine-year-old from early marriage

Among these is a nine-year-old girl from Sembabule District.

The Minister cancelled at least seven weddings in which these girls were about to get married off.

“Abduction of young girls into marriage is rampant. In the last few months, I have disorganized about seven weddings involving very young girls, the recent one being of a nine-year-old girl from Sembabule District,” Mutuuzo said.

The minister stated these revelations during a symposium organized by the Gender Ministry in Kampala last Friday.

The minster further added that the man had parked a V8 vehicle in the compound and the wedding was going on at the girl’s parents’ home in Sembabule.

“Someone tipped me about it. I immediately went there and stopped the marriage and asked police to take over,” she said.

The minster also condemned the practice of families forcing their underage daughters into marriage in exchange for cattle.

This is common in pastoral communities.

The minister further noted that authorities are usually tipped off by the wives of men trying to marry their young daughters off. She said she highly discouraged this as one cannot discuss matters of national importance with a nine year old.

“Some few women come behind the scenes and secretly inform duty bearers that their husbands are planning to marry off their young daughters. When you marry a 9-year-old, which kind of partner will you have to debate with issues of national importance,” she wondered.

According to the Constitution of Uganda 1995 and the children Act (2016) state that the minimum legal age of marriage in Uganda is 18 years.