Ronald Sanya, the Namayingo District LC V Chairperson, explains that the events often lead to inappropriate activities, including sexual encounters among teenagers, resulting in unwanted pregnancies.
Authorities in Namayingo District have banned Disco Matanga, a funeral fundraising dance, citing its link to rising teenage pregnancies. Disco Matanga, popular in Namayingo and the wider Busoga Region, typically features an evening fundraising gathering followed by an all-night disco that draws crowds, particularly youth.
Ronald Sanya, the Namayingo District LC V Chairperson, explains that the events often lead to inappropriate activities, including sexual encounters among teenagers, resulting in unwanted pregnancies. He referenced a study by the Gender and Social Affairs Ministry of the Busoga Kingdom that implicated Disco Matanga as a major factor contributing to the teenage pregnancy crisis.
At the launch of the BOLD Campaign at Banda Secondary School, Kaawo Kawere Naay, Prime Minister of Obwa Wakooli Bwa Bukooli Chiefdom, emphasized the necessity of banning such practices to reduce teenage pregnancies. During the recent Teachers' Day celebration, educators also urged Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba to address the declining enrollment of girls in school, linking the trend to early pregnancies and marriages fueled by these events.
Lumumba responded by issuing a directive to Resident District Commissioner David Kulaba Isabirye to enforce a region-wide ban on Disco Matanga. While the community fundraising efforts can continue, the associated dance events have been prohibited across Busoga.
Despite the ban, some politicians and local leaders have mixed feelings, with a few supporting the practice to maintain their political influence. Margaret Makoha, Namayingo District Woman MP, highlighted the underlying issue of poverty, which makes fundraising vital for funeral expenses.
She criticized parents for not protecting their children adequately, noting that many allow their daughters to attend the night dances. Makoha proposed holding fundraisers during the day and restricting children's participation in night-time events.
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Namayingo District continues to grapple with some of the highest teenage pregnancy and early marriage rates in Uganda, with a minor reduction from 26% to 24% this year. Disco Matanga, originally adopted from Western Kenya, is not a traditional cultural practice of the region but has taken root in eastern Uganda.
Fred Kayongo Male
Freelancer