1. The United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative reported that more than 700,000 girls in Uganda between 6 and 12 have never attended school. In addition,around half of girls between the ages of 15 to 24 are illiterate and four in five girls don’t attend high school.
2. A large contributor to low female literacy rates and school attendance rates is that 35% of girls drop out of school because of early marriage.
3. 23% drop out because of early pregnancy (according to UNICEF). Teenage pregnancy rates are some of the highest in the world. Statistics change from region to region with poorest regions having the highest percentage of teenage pregnancy.
4. Poverty is the largest contributor to low standards in girls’ education in Uganda. Although education is free, school supplies and uniforms are not. Therefore, when faced with either sending a son or a daughter to school, a son’s education will usually be prioritized.
5. Due to high poverty rates, girls are usually expected to work as a way to increase the family’s income. The Global Partnership for Education reported that especially in rural areas, local traditions dictate that girls can be married in exchange for a sum of money given to the daughter’s family as payment.
6. Uneducated girls are highly susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases as well as other health complications. Health issues put girls at a risk of not continuing their education.
7. Girls are less likely to attend school during their menstrual cycle which creates gaps in a girl’s education. This is caused by inadequate infrastructure and resources for good hygiene in schools, especially for girls. Furthermore, girls often feel ashamed and embarrassed about their cycle because women’s health education is not a priority. Read about our Girls in Control
8. Educated mothers are more than twice as likely to ensure the education of their children. They are also more likely to earn higher wages than an uneducated person.
9. Educating girls would see a reduction in child marriage and births. It would also greatly improve the standard of living across Uganda and reduce poverty rates.
10. Educated women are more likely to invest back into their families. Roughly 90% of an income will usually go back to the family.

Uganda has adopted many progressive policies and regulations to safeguard the rights of girls, but many are not enforced. Increased investment in adolescent girls could have a dramatic positive impact on Uganda and its development.