Eight arrested in Amuru for marrying off P.6 girl

Eight people have been arrested in Amuru district for marrying off a fifteen-year-old girl to a thirty-three-year-old man.

Those arrested include thirty-three year-old Charles Ojok who is the bridegroom and his fifteen-year-old bride who is a primary six pupil at Oloyotong Primary School in Amuru district. The bride cannot be named because she is a minor.

The mother and uncle of the girl are under custody.

Other arrested relatives who were accomplices to the traditional marriage include John Okwir who is an uncle to the bridegroom, Elnato Kibwota, Joseph Komakech, Wilberforce Okwonga. Others still at large.

They were arrested on Saturday afternoon from Oloyotong Village in Ogungedi Parish, Amuru Sub County while holding a party for the successful traditional marriage that took place on Friday evening.

According to reports obtained, Ojok and his relatives on Friday evening paid dowry and some unspecified amount of money to the family of the teenage girl in exchange for her hand in marriage.

The family of the girl reportedly accepted the request on Friday evening and handed over the girl to the family of the man for marriage as it is done traditionally in the Acholi culture. 

A close source in the family who asked for anonymity said that on Saturday afternoon the two families while at the home of the teenage girl in Oloyotong Village, Ogungedi Parish organized a party to celebrate the successful traditional marriage before the girl could go to her new home. 

However, Michael Lakony, the Amuru district chairperson said that the police and district authorities were notified of the illegal marriage prompting them to rush to the scene on Saturday where they and arrested the purported couple, their parents and relatives who were part of the organization. 
They are all being detained at Otwee Police Station in Otwee Town Council. The man and his family members had travelled from their home in Koch in Nwoya district. 

Apollo Okello, the Amuru district Secretary for Education said that the teenage girl is a primary six pupil of Oloyotong Primary School who grew up from her uncle`s place.

Her uncle who reportedly masterminded the marriage plans is still on the run.  

Okello decried rising cases of teenage pregnancies and early marriages in the district, something he attributes to poor parenting, love for money and domestic disputes.

URN