School authorities at Pokot SS in Amudat district have expressed concern after one of the best performing female students failed to show up for the final examinations that kicked off on Monday.
The 18-year-old girl (names withheld) was reportedly forced into an early marriage by her parents three days before Uganda Certificate Education, UCE started. It is alleged that the father of the victim set a trap for her when she traveled to check on her ailing mother.
According to the Headteacher, Bonifes Eculu, his student was married off to a wealthy Kenyan man and immediately whisked off to the neighboring country. He says the victim had a very bright future ahead of her as she was intelligent and performed well mostly in sciences.
"They convinced the girl that her mother was very sick and had no one to help her," lamented the head teacher. "So the poor girl rushed home to see the situation of the mother, only to be forcefully taken to Kenya for the man to marry her. We are feeling a lot of pain for her and for our school community!"
He says the case has been forwarded to the District Education Officer (DEO), Anthony Lowoth, to follow up on the matter and hand the suspects to the police.
On his part, Lowoth condemned the acts and appealed to parents in Amudat to value education for their parents.
"Imagine a girl who has been struggling from primary one to senior four, but instead of allowing her first sit her papers, they even denied her that chance, it hurts so much," he said.
