Young women in Southern Province have expressed concern over the increasing number of couples seeking divorce, saying the trend could discourage young people who want to get married.
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Young Women Concerned About Divorce Figures
The concerns were raised during the 25th General Assembly of the National Women’s Council, where participants discussed the challenges facing families.
Some young women said they were concerned by Judiciary figures for 2024–2025 showing that 2,674 married couples filed for divorce.
Agashimayesu Joyeuse Bijoux from Nyanza District said the figures were worrying young people and making some hesitant to start families. “These figures on couples seeking divorce concern us as young people. However, we have confidence in our good leadership and believe that they will help us address this issue.”
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Some Young Women Fear Marriage
Umutesi Asma Shella, a student at UNILAC’s Nyanza campus, said the Judiciary report immediately reminded her of families experiencing marital problems.
She said the situation was discouraging enough to make her consider postponing marriage.
However, she acknowledged that every family is different and that many couples continue to live happily together, providing positive examples for young people. “We want people who intend to marry to first get to know each other well, and their families should also play a role in the process.”
National Women’s Council Works to Resolve Family Conflicts
Kampororo Jeanne d’Arc, Coordinator of the National Women’s Council in Southern Province, said the council sets annual targets for awareness campaigns aimed at preventing and resolving family conflicts.
She said families experiencing problems are supported in finding solutions, while cases that require government intervention are referred to the relevant authorities. “We engage with families experiencing conflicts and work together to find solutions. In some cases, we find that marital conflicts are caused by limited financial resources, and we work with such families to help them overcome those challenges.”
Kampororo added that changing the mindset and attitudes of couples experiencing marital difficulties is also among the council’s priorities.
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Young People Urged Not to Fear Marriage
Deputy Speaker Uwamariya Véneranda, who was the chief guest at the meeting, urged young people not to lose confidence in marriage because of the number of couples seeking divorce.
She said government institutions and their partners are working to address family conflicts and expressed hope that these efforts would eventually reduce the number of couples seeking divorce. “A woman must play her part in building a peaceful and secure family. A woman’s role should not be hers alone; she should work together with her husband.” She said cooperation between husbands and wives could help address challenges that contribute to marital breakdown.
Support for Vulnerable Families
Kampororo said the National Women’s Council also plans to support more than 10,000 vulnerable families this year in their efforts to overcome poverty.
This will be in addition to approximately 7,000 families that the council is already supporting.
