Tumuhairwe Julian, a 20-year-old mother of one from Katwe town council, Kasese district in a dilemma to put her family first, became a victim of forced marriage. In June 2023, following the conversation she had with one of her former school mates about skilling, Julian took the big step and decided to approach the trainer at the skills resource center which marked her first step to recovery.

“My story began when I completed primary seven from Katwe primary school and my parents told me they did not have the money to take me to secondary school” She said. Julian stayed home for some time while helping with family chores until her parents started complaining about her being over dependent and sighting the need for her to contribute to the family’s welfare since they now perceived her as an “adult”. One morning a woman from the neighborhood asked Julian for support in running a bar business, which included a salary. The offer came at a time when Julian was desperate and facing pressure from parents to contribute to the family’s finances, leading to an immediate acceptance.

One fateful day, a bar client asked Julian out but she declined. Subsequently, this man devised a plan to convince the bar owner to allow Julian retrieve the money he owed the bar from his home, unaware of his intentions, the bar owner agreed. Julian was confident that this man would not harm her since her boss knew about the errand. However, upon arriving at his house, the man closed the door and stated that he would only let her leave if she had sex with him. Julian started crying and threatened to scream but the man countered that no one would believe her since she had willingly accompanied him. He also warned that any delay would arouse suspicion from her boss, jeopardizing her job. Conflicted, she reluctantly agreed and the man gave her 30,000 Uganda shillings after. Later, she realized that she had missed her periods and her mother easily noticed that she had gotten pregnant due to the changes on her body. Her mother grew so bitter and told Julian’s father about what had happened and together they decided that she goes to stay with the man to take responsibility of the pregnancy. The man responsible for the pregnancy did not agree to the girl’s parent’s idea because it was a threat to his marriage but after several interventions, he was able to provide some dowry and then took on the responsibility to look after Julian. It was not as easy as she envisioned it because the man’s wife kept attacking her.

One year later, while she was on her way to the market, a former schoolmate who had joined “Ambassadors of Change”, a club formed by GHOWD (Green Home Organization for women Development) at Katwe primary and Secondary Schools, approached her. The schoolmate mentioned that she had intended to visit and discuss skills training opportunities for both girls in and out of school who were interested in economic empowerment. Following this encounter, Julian enrolled at the community resource center for tailoring, garment cutting and design. By interacting with other girls who had faced similar challenges and overcome them through counselling and skills acquired at the center. Julian gradually built confidence. Her tailoring skills improved, enabling her to earn a living by sewing and selling her products at weekly markets.

 Julian is now able to provide for her child and support herself economically. “Motherhood is not suffering” Julian reflects and “the experience I have had as a forced second wife has made me appreciate that giving birth is not the end of life.” Julian now inspires others in the community showing them that even in the face of adversity, it’s possible to raise again.

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From the depths of despair and uncertainty, a path illuminated by hope and opportunity emerged. The support from Green Home, coupled with the reconciliation with family, enabled Brillian to reclaim her education and pursue her dreams.

“My name is Kabugho Brillian, I am a 19-year-old mother with one child. I live with my mother and father-in-law in Kyarukara ward, in Kasese district. Currently in senior two at Katwe Secondary School and also learning tailoring at Green Home Organization for Women Development (GHOWD) community resource centre. This helps me earn a small income to support our family’s welfare.” She said.

At the age of 16, her parents stopped paying her school fees and providing scholastic material, despite her needs as a young girl. In that situation, she stopped schooling. While staying idle at home, she decided to get a boyfriend, thinking it was the only way forward. She got into a relationship without her parents knowing and the man proposed marriage. 

Later, she suspected she was pregnant and told her partner. They went to the clinic for a pregnancy test, which confirmed her suspicion. After a while her mother began noticing changes on her body and asked her to tell the truth. Eventually, she confessed. Her parents were furious upon learning about her pregnancy and kicked her out. She went to her partner’s home since she had nowhere else to go. While staying with her in-laws, she heard about GHOWD vocational training community resource center which offers skills training for girls and young mothers during one of their home to home community visits.

One of GHOWD community workers alongside a staff member, approached her husband and her parents-in-law and requested them to allow her go back to school, emphasizing her youth. It was a powerful moment for her. She had always wanted to return to school but was worried about fitting in and whether her husband and in-laws would support her decision, school fees and childcare. After several times of engaging her husband and in-laws, they eventually agreed and promised to take the necessary steps for her to resume school in the upcoming term. “Before connecting with Green Home and returning to school, I was stressed and hopeless but I now have hope for a brighter future, making it to be a nurse and I also encourage other teenagers to persevere in every situation in life and maintain focus” she said.

This experience has instilled in her a profound sense of resilience and a commitment to empowering other young women facing similar challenges. Looking forward, Brillian envisions a future where she not only achieves personal success but also serves as a beacon of hope, advocating for the importance of education and support systems for young mothers. Her journey underscores the transformative power of perseverance, community, and the unwavering belief in a brighter tomorrow, proving that even in the face of adversity, one can rise, rebuild, and inspire."