Reproductive Health & Rights: Five Days of Listening, Learning and Action in Uganda

For five days, from 10–14 August 2026, Uganda's Namayingo District became a hub for conversations and action on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), child marriage and teenage pregnancy.

Under the theme “Generation to Generation: Standing Together to End SGBV, Child Marriages and Teenage Pregnancy,” the annual SRHR Alliance Week 2026 brought together young people, health workers, teachers, community leaders, parents and civil society organisations to examine the challenges affecting adolescents and young people and identify practical solutions.

The week began at Namayingo District Headquarters, where district leaders welcomed the SRHR Alliance Uganda and its partners and highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing the district’s pressing challenges.

Namayingo is a town and district located in Eastern Uganda, sitting near the shores of Lake Victoria and bordering Kenya.

The statistics presented painted a concerning picture. Namayingo has a population of more than 282,000 people across 11 sub-counties and 306 villages, with 39 health facilities serving the district. However, health worker staffing remains low at approximately 39%. Teenage pregnancy stands at 20.4%, while adolescents account for 24% of hospital deliveries. Between January and March 2026, the district recorded 1,045 SGBV cases.

SRHR Alliance peer educstors in Bukana village, Namayingo District educating men contrecption and use of Family planning.

Throughout the week, schools became important spaces for conversations on SRHR and adolescent wellbeing. Learners in schools including Buswale Senior Secondary School, Kifuyo Primary School, Lubango Primary and Secondary Schools, Banda Secondary School and Bukanda Primary and Secondary Schools participated in discussions on menstrual health, violence, relationships and access to health information and services.

At Buswale, learners took part in reusable sanitary pad-making sessions, with boys also engaged in the discussions. Their participation challenged the perception that menstrual health is only a girls’ issue and encouraged greater understanding and support among all learners.

The engagements also highlighted the connection between SRHR and education. At Budide Primary School, concerns about a significant decline in the transition of learners from Primary Six to Primary Seven demonstrated how challenges such as teenage pregnancy, child marriage and menstrual health can affect young people’s education and future opportunities.

Young girls and boys being taught how to make reusable sanitary pads during a school outreach

Health facilities and community outreach sessions provided another avenue for action. At Mulombi Health Centre III, communities engaged on family planning, HIV testing and SRHR services, while Syanyunja Health Centre III provided discussions around antenatal care, the Youth Corner and HIV self-testing. At Buyinja Subcounty, community members received information on STI prevention, condom use and referrals to health services.

Male involvement was also emphasised. By encouraging men and boys to participate in conversations about family planning, contraception and reproductive health, the engagements challenged the idea that these issues are solely women’s responsibility.

SGBV prevention and response remained central throughout the week, with partners including FIDA Uganda providing communities with information on rights, reporting mechanisms and available legal support.

The week also included a Corporate Social Responsibility drive at Mutumba Subcounty headquarters, where household items were donated to vulnerable familiesdemonstrating that community engagement can combine advocacy with practical support.

As Alliance Week came to a close, the focus shifted from findings to action. The challenge for Namayingo is to ensure that the conversations, concerns and recommendations raised during the week inform district planning, services and accountability.

Alliance Week 2026 demonstrated that meaningful change requires communities, institutions and generations to work together. The conversations may have ended, but the responsibility to act has only begun.

Joshua Mirondo is a program associate with Transition Earth, based in Uganda.