Legal Empowerment and Educational Attainment Among Married Adolescent Girls in Uganda: A Survey Inquiry

Legally mandated marriage at a young age (underage marriage) is common in Uganda, affecting adolescent girls' educational opportunities and outcomes. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 500 married adolescent girls aged 18-24 who completed secondary or higher education. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics. Among participants, 67% reported receiving parental consent for education post-marriage, with a significant positive correlation observed between legal empowerment (as measured by the percentage of girls reporting parental consent) and educational attainment (p < 0.05). Legal empowerment through parental consent legislation positively impacts married adolescent girls' educational outcomes in Uganda. Policy makers should reinforce enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with legal provisions for education post-marriage.