Buyende: Police in Buyende District have arrested two individuals in connection with a viral social media video showing a traditional marriage ceremony involving a 17-year-old girl.
Wycliff Mugeere, a 23-year-old resident of Namalogwe, Nkoone Parish, Irundu Sub-county, and Moses Mutaka, the Local Council Chairman of Bukyaala Village and the father of the minor, are facing charges of defilement and compounding a felony, respectively.
The arrests followed the circulation of a video clip showing Mugeere’s traditional marriage to the underage girl at Mutaka’s home on February 3, 2025.
ASP Michael Kasadha, the Regional Police Spokesperson for Busoga North, confirmed the arrests on March 11, 2025. According to initial investigations, the two have been living together as husband and wife since the ceremony.
“Mutaka hosted the traditional marriage ceremony between Mugeere and his underage daughter at his home. The two have since stayed together as husband and wife,” Kasadha said in a statement.
The incident has sparked mixed reactions from local residents and authorities, with many condemning parents who allow their minors to get married.
Mr. Yafesi Bairukireki, Chairperson of the Busoga Kingdom Youth Council (BKYC), strongly denounced the practice, attributing it to parental greed.
“Such practices are unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Busoga,” he emphasized.
The youth leader revealed that the BKYC has initiated sensitization programs to discourage teenage pregnancies and early marriages. The council is also mobilizing young people to pursue education and participate in skill-building projects to create employment opportunities.
This case in Buyende District highlights the ongoing challenge of child marriage in Busoga, despite existing laws prohibiting the practice. Activists are calling for collective action to combat the persistent issue.
According to Ms. Hellen Lunkuse, Executive Director of the Rape Hurts Foundation in Jinja, deep-rooted cultural practices, economic hardships, and limited education opportunities continue to fuel this violation of girls’ rights.
“As a feminist and women’s rights advocate, I believe that combating early marriages requires a multi-faceted approach,” Ms. Lunkuse said. “We need to engage parents, cultural leaders, and religious institutions in dialogue to challenge harmful beliefs that normalize child marriage.”
Ms. Lunkuse also stressed the importance of economic empowerment for families, investing in livelihood programs for women, and providing vocational training for girls.
“Additionally, law enforcement must be strengthened to proactively prevent child marriages,” she added. “This includes empowering local authorities and child protection units to monitor at-risk girls and intervene before marriages occur.”
Education, Ms. Lunkuse noted, must also be prioritized. “Schools should be safe spaces where girls are encouraged to complete their education. Scholarships and mentorship programs can help keep them in school and reduce their vulnerability to early marriage,” she said.
The activist called for collective action to end child marriage in Busoga, stressing the need to act decisively to ensure that every girl’s future is shaped by choice, not circumstance.
The Marriage Bill 2024 takes a strong stance against child marriages, proposing a 10-year jail sentence for anyone involved in organizing, conducting, or witnessing a marriage involving a minor, as outlined in Clause 101. The provision aims to protect minors from forced or early marriages, ensuring their safety and well-being.
According to Kasadha, police are conducting further investigations to identify additional suspects involved in the illegal marriage of the 17-year-old girl. The suspects will be taken to court for legal action.
