But there is another question we must not ignore: if a schoolgirl is sexually active, is she making that decision freely, or is someone exploiting her?
By Rev. Atuhaire Moses
The viral post about 40 Senior Two girls reportedly using contraceptive implants has sparked debate, with some people condemning the development as evidence of moral decay. But before we rush to judge these girls, we must pause and ask ourselves a more important question: are we more concerned about protecting our children’s futures or policing their bodies?
As a parent, I believe a girl with a contraceptive implant in her arm should not automatically be labelled immoral. Contraception does not prove promiscuity. It may instead reflect a decision to prevent an unintended pregnancy and protect her education and future.
We must acknowledge an uncomfortable reality: some adolescents are sexually active, whether adults approve of it or not. Others face sexual pressure, coercion and abuse. Pretending these realities do not exist will not make them disappear.
The consequences can be devastating. An unintended pregnancy can interrupt a girl’s education, expose her to health complications and place enormous emotional and financial pressure on her and her family. In cases of sexual abuse, the harm can be even more profound.
So, what should concern us more: a girl who has access to a contraceptive implant, or one who becomes pregnant, drops out of school and struggles to rebuild her future?
This is not an argument against abstinence. Abstinence should remain an important message in age-appropriate sexuality education. But teaching abstinence alone, while withholding accurate information and protection from those who are already sexually active, is not enough.
An implant is protection, not a licence for promiscuity
Contraceptive implants are highly effective methods of preventing pregnancy and can provide protection for several years, depending on the product used. However, they do not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. Adolescents therefore also need accurate information about condoms, sexually transmitted infections, consent and healthy relationships.
Access to contraception should go hand in hand with proper counselling and appropriate medical care. Girls must understand their options, the benefits and possible side effects of each method, and their right to make informed decisions with qualified health professionals.
But there is another question we must not ignore: if a schoolgirl is sexually active, is she making that decision freely, or is someone exploiting her?
Where a girl may have been defiled, coerced or abused, the priority must be her safety and protection. Health workers, parents, teachers and child-protection authorities must work together to establish whether abuse has occurred and ensure that the perpetrator is held accountable.
We must never assume that a girl using contraception is promiscuous, nor should we overlook the possibility that she is a victim of abuse.
Protect girls from stigma and humiliation
I am particularly concerned about the public shaming of these girls. A child’s reproductive health should not become material for online ridicule or public humiliation.
Photographs of a girl’s arm, shared without her consent, can expose her to bullying, stigma and lasting emotional harm. Schools and parents must not turn such cases into public spectacles.
Instead, we should protect the girls’ privacy, establish the facts and ensure that any health intervention is appropriate and properly managed.
If health workers provided contraceptive services, the relevant questions should include whether the girls received appropriate counselling, whether consent requirements were followed and whether safeguarding concerns were assessed. These are legitimate questions that deserve professional answers, not sensational headlines or moral condemnation.
Parents and schools must confront reality
Uganda cannot afford to ignore adolescent pregnancy. The Uganda Demographic and Health Survey 2022 reported that about one in four girls and young women aged 15–19 had begun childbearing. This is a serious challenge that requires more than condemnation.
Parents must create an environment in which their children can discuss relationships, sexual pressure and reproductive health without fear. Silence does not prevent pregnancy, and shouting about morality does not equip a child to deal with coercion or make informed decisions.
Schools, too, have a responsibility to provide age-appropriate education, protect learners from sexual exploitation and ensure that girls are not forced to choose between their health and their education.
Religious leaders should continue teaching abstinence, responsibility and respect for human dignity. But we must also acknowledge the circumstances in which young people live and respond with compassion, wisdom and practical support.
My position is clear
First, keep girls in school and give them the support they need to complete their education.
Second, provide age-appropriate sexuality education that promotes abstinence while ensuring that adolescents understand contraception, consent and the risks of sexually transmitted infections.
Third, ensure that adolescents can access appropriate, confidential and non-judgmental health services in accordance with the law and professional safeguarding requirements.
Fourth, investigate suspected defilement and sexual exploitation, protect the victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
Finally, parents must talk to their children, listen to them and guide them rather than resorting to shame and punishment.
We should not celebrate teenage sexual activity, but neither should we abandon girls who may be exposed to its consequences. Protecting them requires honesty, responsibility and compassion.
As a father, I would rather see a girl receive appropriate healthcare, remain in school and pursue her dreams than watch her future derailed by an unintended pregnancy that could have been prevented.
An implant does not define a girl’s morality. Our responsibility is to protect her dignity, safeguard her health and give her the opportunity to build a better future.
I submit.
Rev. Atuhaire Moses