On a day dedicated to celebrating motherhood, a Ugandan social drama turned the spotlight to a more difficult reality — the lived experiences of young mothers navigating poverty, stigma and survival in urban slums.
The premiere of Maama Wange, held on Sunday at the headquarters of Reach A Hand Uganda in Lungujja, Kampala, drew emotional reactions as it unfolded both as a celebration and a sobering reflection on teenage pregnancy and gender inequality.
The film, whose title translates to “My Mother” in Luganda, follows Atim, a young single mother living in the slums of Namuwongo.
Through her story, the production explores teenage pregnancy, poverty, abuse and the daily struggles of young mothers in vulnerable communities.
Held on Mother’s Day, the red-carpet premiere also served as a tribute to mothers, with several attending the screening as guests of honour.
Among the notable attendees was Maggie Kigozi, who praised the film for exposing the realities of early motherhood and called for stronger sensitisation to prevent teenage pregnancies.
She said many young mothers are pushed into adulthood too early because of poverty and limited access to education.
“These are girls who were not given opportunities. They come from poor backgrounds, they have not been to school. So life becomes very, very hard for them,” she said.
Dr Kigozi added that the film presents a timely message for society and policymakers.
“The film is a brilliant idea about what can happen when young people get pregnant too early. We must sensitise our girls so that they don’t fall into this trap,” she noted.
According to the chief executive officer of Reach A Hand Uganda, Humphrey Nabimanya, Maama Wange is part of a broader advocacy drive to address sexual and gender-based violence and teenage pregnancy.
He said the organisation is moving beyond awareness creation to direct action, including fundraising for “Maama Kits” to support vulnerable teenage mothers during childbirth.
“We are proud to share Maama Wange with the world. This film is a tool we are using to raise awareness about sexual and gender-based violence and teenage pregnancy,” he said. “But we want to do more than talk about it — we want to take action.”
Mark Kayizzi, the Head of Communications and Advocacy at Reach A Hand Uganda, said the film reflects the organisation’s core mission of using storytelling to drive social change.
He said the production exposes the lived realities of young mothers facing unemployment, abuse and injustice, while amplifying community voices.
“The film sheds light on the everyday experiences and challenges faced by many young mothers striving to care for their children amid unemployment, abuse and injustice, while reinforcing the power of storytelling in inspiring change, shifting narratives and amplifying community voices,” Kayizzi said.
He added that Maama Wange is not just a film but part of a larger advocacy movement rooted in youth empowerment and narrative change.
“This project is deeply meaningful to Reach A Hand because it embodies our core work: empowering young people to tell stories of change, stories that shift narratives, advocate for progress and amplify voices in our communities,” he noted.
Writer and producer Mirembe Doreen said the film was inspired by her personal relationship with her mother, describing it as “a love letter to all mothers” and a tribute to their sacrifices.
The production, developed under the Ikon Awards Fellowship Programme, was also framed as both a celebration of motherhood and a call to action on teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence.