LYANTONDE- A 17-year –old girl in Lyantonde District has sued her father for failing to pay her school fees and trying to force her into marriage.
The girl informed Lyantonde Grade One Magistrate MrTadeo Muinda last week that her father, Mr Robert Muhwezi , a businessman in Katovu Town in Lwengo District ordered her not to go back to school because she is “old enough to get married”.
“In 2013, my father told me to go to Katovu Town and on reaching there; he enticed me by giving me Shs 20,000. Later, he showed me a man whom he said was preparation to marry me,” the sobbing girl told court.
The weeping teenager said when she rejected the suggestion, her father threatened to kill her.
“Some male strangers have tried several times to harm me while walking in the town, but with God’s mercy, I have survived all these plans,” she said.
The girl’s mother, Ms Beatrice Kyalisiima asked court to heavily punish her husband, because he has forced all her daughters to get married at a tender age with the sole purpose of getting money.
In Uganda, 18 years is the age of consent and it’s illegal for a boy or a girl to get married before that minimum age.
Ms Kyalisiima said after raising the matter with the husband several times, he forced her out of their matrimonial home.
Lyantonde Magistrate Muinda, is set to give his ruling today.
Residents of Nakaseta village in Kabatema Parish Kaliiro sub- county Lyantonde District where the family lives say Mr Muhwezi has become an irresponsible father.
Lyantonde District is one of the districts where young girls are forced into early marriage. Most of them, however, abandon the marriages and join prostitution in Lyantonde trading centre and other towns.
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com
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