Adolescent Girls in the Balance: Changes and continuity in social norms and practices around marriage and education in Uganda

Despite progress made in Uganda to reduce poverty, expand educational opportunities and improve gender equality, national and regional data surveys show that an alarming number of adolescents are still living in poverty, are deprived of educational opportunities, and girls are compelled into child marriages and early pregnancy.

This report bases its findings on a two year research study begun in 2012. It aims to provide a more in-depth understanding of how and why discriminatory gendered social norms are or are not changing so as to better inform policies and programmes. The report finds that norms and practices around marriage and education among adolescent girls are both changing while remaining in an overall setting resistant to change and of generalized poverty.