Shs128 Billion Program Launched to Aid Vulnerable Youth in Five Ugandan Sub-Regions

A significant new program, dubbed Strengthening Adolescents and Youth Rights and Empowerment (SAY Plus+), has been introduced with a budget of Shs128 billion to uplift vulnerable youth in five underserved areas of Uganda. The initiative, running until 2030, aims to enhance access to sexual and reproductive health services, combat teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence, and equip young individuals with essential life skills.

Targeting individuals aged 10 to 24, the program places a particular focus on girls, young women, refugees, out-of-school youth, persons with disabilities, and those in humanitarian or post-conflict settings. State Minister for Primary Health Care, Ms. Margaret Muhanga, highlighted the persistent issue of high teenage pregnancy rates affecting girls’ education and futures, emphasizing the need for collaborative support from parents, schools, and leaders.

Implementation will span 13 districts across the Acholi, West Nile, Karamoja, Bukedi, and Busoga sub-regions. Regional referral hospitals in key cities like Jinja, Mbale, Moroto, Yumbe, Arua, and Gulu will also see improvements in youth-friendly reproductive health services.

International partners, including Ambassadors from Sweden and Denmark, stressed the importance of accurate information and comprehensive sexuality education for empowering young people to make informed life choices and recognizing youth as critical drivers of national development.

The Shs128 billion program is a collaborative effort funded by the governments of Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and the Netherlands, in partnership with Uganda’s Ministry of Health and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

According to Dr. Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services, many adolescents face significant risks due to limited access to information and reproductive health services, underscoring the lifelong consequences of decisions made at a young age. UNFPA Uganda Representative Kristine Blokhus noted that the SAY Plus+ program signifies a move towards coordinated, evidence-based solutions and emphasizes youth participation, particularly in regions experiencing high rates of teenage pregnancy, child marriage, and gender-based violence.

The program anticipates reaching over 2.3 million beneficiaries through initiatives promoting informed decision-making, challenging harmful social norms, and improving access to responsive health services. Young attendees expressed enthusiasm for the program, seeing it as an opportunity for their voices to be included in decisions impacting their lives. The SAY initiative’s expansion builds upon a successful pilot project in the West Nile region.

This initiative is supported by the Daily Monitor.