Single teen mothers in Mayuge District are taking up jobs in sugarcane plantations as casual laborers to support themselves and their children. Engaging in roles such as transporters, cutters, loaders, and lifters, these young mothers are breaking traditional gender norms in pursuit of economic independence.
Mayuge, part of the thriving sugarcane-growing region in Busoga Sub-region, hosts various sugarcane millers, including Kakira Sugar Limited, Kaliro Sugar Company, Mayuge Sugar Industries Limited, Bugiri Sugar Company Limited, and Kamuli Sugar Limited.
Despite the challenging circumstances, teenage mothers like Fatuma Nasali, 17, and Roy Kisakye, 18, are actively participating in plantation work to earn a living. Nasali, who lost her first baby at 15, now cares for her 8-month-old child and works for compensation ranging from Shs300 to Shs1,000 for each bundle of sugarcane she carries.
Kisakye, who delivered at the age of 16 while in Primary Seven, finds employment as a casual laborer in sugarcane plantations. Her earnings vary, with payment ranging from Shs20,000 for weeding an acre to Shs1,000 and Shs2,000 for cutting and transporting a bundle of sugarcane.
The strenuous nature of sugarcane work, predominantly occupied by men, poses a challenge for these young mothers, who express their desire to explore alternative opportunities if provided with capital. Their struggles highlight the financial constraints, lack of support from absent fathers, and the difficulties in securing well-paying jobs due to limited skills and academic credentials.
Local sugarcane farmer Faizal Baliruno acknowledges that many teen mothers in the area face financial hardships, with some of their children’s fathers being teenagers still dependent on their parents. He notes that these young mothers, often accompanied by their babies, can earn between Shs4,000 and Shs5,000 per day, depending on the tasks performed.
Mayuge, like other regions in Uganda, grapples with a high incidence of teenage pregnancies. The United Nations Fund for Population Activities indicates that Busoga Sub-region, particularly Kamuli and Mayuge districts, tops the list of teenage pregnancies in the country.
