Stakeholders call for policy reforms on sexual, reproductive health

The  government's policy prohibiting comprehensive sexuality education in primary schools and strict religious norms opposing contraceptive use have been highlighted as major barriers to advancing sexual and reproductive rights.

These concerns took center stage during the three days global knowledge exchange engagement in Jinja City, where stakeholders gathered to assess the performance of SHARE Projects in Buyende and Adjumani districts.

The engagement, attended by representatives from civil society organizations, the Busoga Kingdom, and international partners from the USA, Mozambique, and Ghana, has sparked critical conversations on the need for policy reforms and inclusive health education.

Rev. Grace Aggrey Wakabi, the secretary of Buyende Archdeaconry, emphasized the importance of equipping children with knowledge about their sexual and reproductive health.

While the Church preaches against immoral behaviors, he acknowledged that young people continue to engage in sexual activities.

"Children should be equipped with sexual reproductive rights knowledge at an early age to understand their bodies and their rights. This will help curb the rising cases of teenage pregnancies," he said.

Rev. Wakabi also personally advocated for the use of contraceptives and condoms as a means to prevent early pregnancies and child marriages.

"Though the Church strongly opposes the use of contraceptives and condoms, the situation on the ground dictates otherwise. I personally believe they should be adopted in the fight against early marriages," he added.

Titus GeraldTumusime, the Country Director of Right to Play Uganda, highlighted that Buyende and Adjumani are among the 23 most affected districts with high rates of teenage pregnancies and child marriages.

"We implemented the SHARE Project in these districts because available data indicated alarming numbers of teenage pregnancies. While we have managed to reduce the rate to 24% in Buyende and 13% in Adjumani, these figures remain high considering the national average of 24%," Tumusime explained.

He pointed out that the Ugandan government's stringent policy prohibiting comprehensive sexuality education in primary schools presents a significant challenge, as many minors lack knowledge about their Sexual reproductive Health Rights

Buyende Woman Member of Parliament, Annet Nakato, attributed the high teenage pregnancy rates to polygamy, which she said contributes to poverty and poor parenting.

"Many men marry multiple wives, and when each woman bears children, the husbands fail to provide basic necessities. As a result, these children seek alternative means to survive, often falling prey to elderly men and women," Nakato stated.

Stakeholders at the engagement, including representatives from Right to Play, Water Aid, FAWE, and FHI 360, called for urgent policy reforms to integrate comprehensive sexuality education into Uganda’s education system.

They emphasized that inclusive health education and access to contraceptives are crucial in reducing teenage pregnancies and child marriages.

As discussions which ended on Friday,  participants came up with recommendations to influence national policies, ensuring that young people receive the knowledge and resources necessary to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.