Why investing in young people’s health, rights is investing in Uganda’s future

___________

OPINION

By Gift Malunga

At just 22, Prossy Mirembe from Kamuli district is a symbol of resilience and purpose. Born with HIV and raised in the shadows of stigma, she now stands in front of classrooms and community groups, not as a victim, but as a peer educator guiding other young people to live positively.

Across Uganda, many young people face challenges that threaten their future.

High rates of teenage pregnancy, HIV infection and gender-based violence, including early marriage, deny them the opportunity to reach their full potential, undermining the country’s economic progress.

Preliminary findings from a forthcoming study by the 2gether 4 SRHR Programme estimate that Uganda loses nearly half a billion US dollars annually due to inadequate investment in the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) needs of its young people.

But change is underway. Young people like Prossy are taking control of their health and futures, supported by initiatives like the 2gether 4 SRHR programme, a joint programme of UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO.

Working hand in hand with governments, civil society and traditional and cultural institutions, the programme aims to improve SRHR across East and Southern Africa.

Progress at every level

Uganda recently adopted the Adolescent Health Services Standards, ensuring that health facilities are youth-friendly and meet the unique needs of young people.

By improving the links between schools, communities and health centres, outreach and school mapping initiatives are helping adolescents find the timely health support they need, right where they live and learn.

Yet challenges persist

According to the National Strategy to End Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy (2022/2023-2026-2027) approximately 25% of girls age 15 – 19 experience early pregnancies. In the kingdom of Busoga alone, 46,000 teenage pregnancies were reported in a single year, underscoring the urgency for targeted interventions.

Teenage pregnancy reinforces cycles of poverty and inequality as it remains a major driver of school dropout and maternal mortality. While early pregnancies limit a teenage girl’s potential, they also carry a significant economic cost.

This week, a delegation from “2gether 4 SRHR” travelled to Jinja to witness the impact of such programmes first-hand.

They had the honour of meeting the Kyabazinga of Busoga, who was recently appointed a national Goodwill Ambassador for the engagement of men and boys in ending teenage pregnancy and child – Abasaadha ne Mpango, mobilises communities to keep girls in school, promote vocational skills, challenge harmful norms, advance economic empowerment and ensure access to essential health services.

Prossy’s story reflects the success of Young Adolescent Peer Supporter initiative, a national programme, supported by 2gether 4 SRHR, that improves the HIV care outcomes among adolescents and young people. Evidence shows that peer-led education is effective in sharing life-saving information on HIV prevention, family planning and gender-based violence.

The path forward

Uganda has made noteworthy progress at the policy level, developing 13 national guidelines and strategies to improve youth wellbeing.

It has also rolled out the National Health Sector Male Engagement Strategy that promotes the involvement of men and boys in SRHR to challenge negative gender norms and improve health outcomes.

Strengthening health data systems is also a part of this progress. The path to sustained growth lies in prioritising young people’s health and rights in budgets, policies and programmes. Investing in young people, like Prossy, is shaping the future of Uganda for generations to come.

The article was co-written by the following: Gift Malunga, the UNFPA Uganda representative; Jacqueline Makokha, UNAIDS Uganda country director; Robin Nandy, UNICEF representative and Kasonde Mwinga, WHO representative