This article was first published on the New Vision website on April 27, 2023
By Maureen Nakatudde
Sometimes, when you are cornered with problems on every side, you can be compelled to make bad decisions.
However, this was not the case with, Faith Tumwebaze, a 16 year old from Kiburwe Island, Buvuuma district.
The teenager resisted abortion, and pressure for an early marriage in spite of being abandoned by her parents because of an early pregnancy during the 2021 COVID 19 lockdown.
Maureen Nakatudde shares her story and how a short training changed her life.
Though my father died when I was in Primary Two, I only have faint memories of him because he was never there. He had different women but also at that time, I could not recollect his face very well.
When he died, my paternal uncle took me in his home at Bugerere, Kayunga district.
In 2020, I was in senior three and unfortunately, during the lock down, I came to visit my mother who had a silver fish business in Kiburwe Island. I then became pregnant with a young man on that island.
I become pregnant
When my mother told him about my situation, my uncle got annoyed and spread the news in the village. He then called and asked me about the situation. I denied everything.
“If you are pregnant, stay where you are,” he said. “No one can stay in my home with a pregnancy.”
During that time, some people advised me to abort so that I could continue with my education. I refused because I feared the repercussions of death.
At that time, my boyfriend, who was a barber in a salon on that island, requested me to start living with him. I refused.
I told him: “I was still young at the age of 16 years.” I also never wanted to annoy my uncle again by engaging in marriage after becoming pregnant.
He then said: “If you have refused to come and stay with me, then the child is not mine.” I told him I will raise my child alone.
Later in 2021, I went back to Kayunga, but since I was not welcome at home, I stayed at my friend’s house in Kangulumira. Following that, I black listed my mother, uncle and boyfriend, I then got a job of frying chips. Every day I would earn shs.5, 000.
After four days, I would go and buy my children’s clothes.
Giving birth
When time reached for delivery, my account had shs.250, 000. Fortunately, it was a natural birth. The clinic asked me for sh. 244,000, which I had.
My baby then started crying endlessly. My friends suggested that I call his father to give him a name. The father not only gave him the name but also came to visit with baby clothes and refunded the money of the hospital bill.
He still suggested that we move in but I declined. I was not ready for marriage.
After two and half months, my mother also got to know about it. I had one time used a friend’s number to call her. So, when she called on her number, my friend told her that I had given birth.
Though I forbid my friend never to tell her, she told her. My mother then also informed my uncle. The following day, my mother was at my friend’s house entreating me to return home. I refused.
My uncle apologized and told me that I was welcome home. I had refused to return but my friend pleaded with me to go home since my parents had apologized. When I got there, they were happy for me and also accepted my child.
A chance to education again
In 2021, my mother found people registering in Kiburwe Island for training.
I had also came to the island to take the child to the father. While there, Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) programme being sponsored by Global Fund was on ground to skill girls in hair dressing, catering and tailoring.
The training was implanted by The Uganda Aids Support Organisation (TASO) in partnership with Uganda Development Health Associates (UDHA).
After the celebrations of the New Year, we started studying on January 3, 2022. I registered for the course in hair dressing which went on for three months. Before I was a shop keeper earning sh100, 000.
But now with the start-up kit of percolator, hand dryer, towels, an apron, combs, bucket, jerrycan moveable sink and Vaseline for retouch and treatment, I hope to return to Kayunga and start a salon with my sister.
Unfortunately, my uncle died in 2022. I promised him to lead a better life. I am also very grateful for the programme, which has not only granted us skills but also given us the tools to make it in life
