Covid-19 continuing to increase the rate of school dropouts in Uganda.

Following a sharp increase of covid19 cases 2 months back, the government of Uganda imposed another lockdown as a measure to slow the spread of the disease. The permanent secretary at the Health Ministry, Dr. Diana Atwine was quoted as saying the number of infections had increased by 80% between March and April.

The lockdown involved closure of most of the sectors of the economy including public transport, shops in the capital, churches, schools, which were all ordered not to operate for 42 days. At the end of these 42 days, the government eased the lockdown, but maintained some sectors closed and among them were schools which are currently still under lockdown. These were considered to be among the main drivers of the spread of the virus as they bring together large numbers of people from various locations.

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The closure of schools came within it's own consequences as the country has witnessed a sharp increase in the rate of school dropouts. Girls have covered up the largest percentage of the dropouts due to the unintended pregnancies which they are always vulnerable to when they are out of school forcing them to get married off. While the boys have joined businesses and have now lost interest in studies.

Keeping girls at home amidst their poverty-stricken families which struggle to earn a living forces the girls to look for work inorder to take care of themselves. Some parents actually force them to go work inorder to relieve off the pressure of providing for a big family. This exposes the girls to a risk of sexual violence leading to parents marrying them off at an early age.