Source: Daily Monitor
Women legislators have asked the government to develop a policy to educate child-mothers to enable them engage in productive ventures to fight poverty.

The legislators under the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association argued that engaging child-mothers in economic empowerment activities is one of the strategies to end the rampant cases of marrying off under-age girls and gender-based violence.

Less expenditure on army

Speaking at the opening of the peace exposition in Kasese on Tuesday, Ms Alice Alaso, the Serere District Woman MP, said: "Child-mothers are paying a price of an action done by two people. We need them back in school such that they can engage in productive activities to better their lives."

Ms Alaso said there is need for government to reduce expenditure on military hardware because it increases prospects for war.

"Priority should be directed towards reconstructing communities affected by war. You need money to restore livelihoods and to give hope to the bereaved."
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Isis-Women's International Cross Cultural Exchange, a human rights advocacy body, organised the four- day exposition under the theme: 'Challenging militarism and violence against women' to create a platform for women from post-conflict areas to voice their challenges and experiences.

The participants comprising child -mothers, policy makers and cultural leaders, asked the government to design policies that consider women at all levels as strategy to bring their issues in the public domain.

The Rwenzururu King, Charles Wesley Mumbere, said: "Law enforcement and court mechanisms also have to be made friendly and accessible to women." He commended the exposition, saying the Rwenzururu Kingdom will always support the women in challenging militarism and violence against women.

• Uganda