“I Felt Like I Had Become a Burden to My Parents”: How One Young Father Rebuilt His Future Through Responsibility, Knowledge and Support
Vincent operating a microscope during his internship at Nagwere Health Centre III.
At just 18 years old, Vincent thought his future had come to an end.
A Senior Four student at Hillview
College Burangira, he was like many adolescents navigating friendships, relationships, and the pressures of growing up. Looking back today, Vincent believes one of the biggest challenges he faced was a lack of adequate knowledge about sexual and reproductive health, coupled with the influence of peer pressure.
“One of the biggest lessons I have learnt is not to be influenced by peer groups and to stay focused on education,” he reflects.
While still in school, Vincent and a fellow student discovered they were expecting a baby. The news came with consequences neither of them had imagined.
When the school learnt about the pregnancy, both students were expelled.
“I felt like I had become a burden to my parents,” Vincent recalls.
The uncertainty was overwhelming. His education had been interrupted; he was about to become a father, and he had no idea what the future would look like.
But instead of rejecting him, both families chose to put the well-being of the young parents and their unborn child first.
Vincent’s family supported the young mother throughout her pregnancy, ensuring she attended antenatal care and received the care she needed until she safely delivered their daughter at Butebo Health Centre IV. After childbirth, both families continued caring for the baby while allowing the young parents to continue their education.
When his daughter was born, the reality of fatherhood finally settled in.
“When my daughter was born, I felt it was a very big responsibility to handle,” Vincent says.
Although he wanted to do the right thing, he admits he was still learning what it meant to be a father. His parents became his greatest source of support, helping care for his daughter while guiding him through one of the most difficult periods of his life.
But they did more than help him become a father.
They helped him remain a student.
“My parents told me they were taking me back to school,” Vincent remembers. “That encouraged me.”
Their decision became the turning point in his life.
Vincent enrolled at Rubongi Army Secondary School in Tororo, where he completed his Senior Four education before joining Albert Cook Institute to pursue a Certificate in Medical Laboratory Assistance.
Today, at 21 years old, Vincent is completing his internship at Nagwere Health Centre III, determined to build a better future for himself and his daughter.
The internship gives him valuable hands-on experience, but no salary.
“Being an intern, you don’t earn anything. You do it to gain the skills you need for your future.”
To support himself while pursuing his internship, Vincent spends his mornings and early afternoons at the health facility. When his internship duties end, he joins an Airtel SIM card registration team, where he earns a small commission based on the number of SIM cards he registers.
It is a modest income, but it enables him to contribute towards his daughter’s needs while continuing to build his future.
“Whenever I earned something, I would buy basic things like sugar, soap, clothes, and whatever I could afford for my daughter.”
It was during this period that another opportunity came his way.
Vincent spending time with his daughter at home in Nagwere.
Nandutu Jacinta, a Village Health Team (VHT) member, invited him to attend the Young Mothers’ and Fathers’ Forum under the Inclusive and Equitable Health Services (IEHS) Project, implemented by the Uganda Youth and Adolescent Health Forum (UYAHF) with support from German Doctors.
“I was actually preparing to go back to school,” Vincent recalls. “But after the VHT explained what the forum was about, I decided to stay and attend.”
That decision introduced him to knowledge he wishes he had received years earlier.
Through the Young Mothers and Fathers Forum, Vincent joined other young mothers and fathers in discussions on sexual and reproductive health, responsible parenthood, financial literacy, saving, and livelihood development.
For Vincent, the sessions did more than provide information.
They helped him understand responsible fatherhood, make informed decisions about his future, and appreciate the value of planning.
“I learnt things I wish I had known when I was still in school,” he says.
The forum also introduced members to community savings and loan groups, where they contributed small weekly savings and could later borrow to invest in income-generating activities.
Vincent borrowed UGX 200,000 from the group’s savings.
Rather than spending it on immediate needs, he hired a small piece of land and planted cassava.
“I chose cassava because it has commercial value. When it is ready, I can sell it and earn an income.”
Repaying the loan required discipline.
Without a salary, Vincent relied on the modest income he earned from registering Airtel SIM cards. Every month, he set aside approximately UGX 37,000 to repay the loan.
Even while repaying the loan, he never abandoned the habit of saving.
“During the time I was paying back my loan, I continued saving at least UGX 2,000 every week. After clearing the loan, I increased my weekly savings to UGX 3,000 because I know saving helps me prepare for future opportunities.”
Despite balancing an unpaid internship, loan repayments, weekly savings, and casual work, Vincent remained committed to supporting his daughter whenever he could.
“I couldn’t forget that I was already a father.”
Today, his cassava garden continues to grow, and he hopes the harvest will finance the next chapter of his journey.
His dream is to return to school and qualify as a Medical Laboratory Technician.
“I want to continue studying so I can become a laboratory technician. I want to support my daughter, help my younger siblings continue their education, and reduce the burden on my parents. They stood by me when I needed them most. Now I want to stand by them.”
When asked what he hopes his daughter will one day say about him, Vincent pauses before answering.
“I hope she will say that I was resilient.”
At just 21 years old, Vincent knows his journey is far from over.
The mistakes he made as a teenager changed the course of his life, but they did not define it. With the support of his family, a second chance at education, and the knowledge and practical skills gained through the Young Mothers and Fathers Forum, he has rebuilt his confidence, embraced responsible fatherhood, and begun creating opportunities for himself and his daughter.
His story reminds us that adolescent pregnancy affects not only young mothers but young fathers as well. When young men are equipped with accurate sexual and reproductive health information, supported to make responsible decisions, and empowered with practical life and financial skills, they are better able to care for their children, pursue their aspirations, and contribute positively to their families and communities.
