Teenage Pregnancy Costs Uganda Shs645bn Annually - Minister Lakisa

What the report says

Uganda could be spending about Shs645 billion each year on the health care and education costs linked to teenage pregnancy, according to Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs Dr Mercy Faith Lakisa, as reported by Nile Post. She cited a 2022 National Planning Authority study on the wider social and economic burden of teenage pregnancy and child marriage, and said the figure does not include the additional costs carried by families and communities.

Lakisa made the remarks at a stakeholders’ meeting and the launch of the 2026 National and Regional Girl Summits at Hotel Africana in Kampala. She said ending child marriage and teenage pregnancy should be treated not only as a rights issue but also as a development priority, arguing that the resources consumed by these problems could instead support education, health services, skills training and jobs. She also pointed to figures discussed at the event showing widespread early unions and high rates of teenage pregnancy, and said stronger coordination is needed across government, faith leaders, cultural institutions, civil society and development partners.

Girls Not Brides Uganda national co-chair Joyce Nakato called for more direct funding for child marriage and teenage pregnancy interventions, saying these issues are often absorbed into broader social welfare budgets. She said local child protection officers frequently lack the resources to follow up cases, and warned that the national strategy on the issue has not reached all districts. Nakato also urged closer work with religious and cultural leaders, especially in poorer areas such as Karamoja and some eastern districts where early marriage remains a concern. The Girl Summits are meant to review progress and strengthen action ahead of the national summit scheduled for November 24 in Kampala.