Health
Research Links Social Support to Improved Contraceptive Decision-Making for Women
Researchers at Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) are urging the Ugandan government to boost healthcare funding to enhance reproductive health services. Dr. Dinah Amongin, an obstetrics and gynecology expert at MakSPH, has expressed concern about the lack of access to family planning methods, which forces women to use less preferred options due to unavailability.
Dr. Amongin notes that within just six months to a year of using contraception, some women encountered issues and switched methods. This highlights the need for the Ministry of Health to improve the availability of various contraceptive options. A rights-based approach to contraception ensures that women have access to a range of methods, preventing situations where desired options are unavailable at health facilities.
“Stockouts are a significant issue, and this extends to parliamentary discussions on health sector budgets. As we focus on human capital development and improving maternal and newborn health outcomes, we must consider crucial components like preventing unwanted pregnancies through family planning. The budget allocation for the health sector directly impacts this issue. When women cannot access their preferred contraceptive methods due to stockouts, it reflects a failure in our legislative and budgeting processes. This situation forces women to switch to fewer desirable methods, which is not acceptable,” says Dr. Amongin.
Adding that; “These are things we need to continue discussing as a country but we must invest into family planning. We can talk about human capital development but until we step up and actually support women to prevent unwanted pregnancies, support them in their decisions of whether she wants to use a method for contraception or not. That is her choice. We must make sure access to the methods of her choice is actually addressed.”
Dr. Amongin’s comments follow a recent study on the I-CAN/Nsobola/An atwero social support intervention, piloted in Mayuge and Oyam districts in 2023. The study highlights that social support significantly improves women’s ability to make informed contraceptive choices, potentially leading to better reproductive health outcomes.
Part of the Innovations for Choice and Autonomy (ICAN) project, the study shows that self-injection with DMPA-SC (Sayana Press) could increase contraceptive use, especially among women with limited access to healthcare. Despite the rollout of this method in 2017, its use remains low in Uganda. Sayana Press as popularly known is a subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC). It is a hormonal birth control shot, administered under the skin and is an all-in-one contraceptive that puts women in charge of their reproductive health.
Social support boosts self-efficacy, enhances privacy, and reduces access barriers, making self-management easier. Family planning helps manage the number and timing of children, lowering maternal and infant mortality rates and reducing complications from pregnancy. Conversely, unmet contraceptive needs can lead to unintended pregnancies and their associated risks.
In Uganda, 52% of pregnancies are unwanted or mistimed, with over 43% due to unmet family planning needs. The country’s youthful population complicates the issue, with 50% under 17 years old, at least according to the recent National Population Census. Notably, 10% of girls, one in every 10 girls you encounter, has already had sex before she turns 15 years, and 20% of boys, two in 10 boys have engaged in sexual intercourse by the same age.
Methods of contraception include oral contraceptive pills, implants, injectables, patches, vaginal rings, intra uterine devices, condoms, male and female sterilization, lactational amenorrhea methods, withdrawal and fertility awareness-based methods.
Global statistics show that 77.5% of women aged 15–49 had their family planning needs met with modern methods in 2022, up from 67% in 1990. In sub-Saharan Africa, the proportion of women who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods (SDG indicator 3.7.1) continues to be among the lowest in the world at 56 per cent. Nevertheless, it also increased faster than in any other region of the world, having more than doubled since 1990, when this proportion was only 24 per cent.
Among 1.9 billion women of reproductive age (15-49 years), an estimated 874 million women use a modern contraceptive method and 92 million, a traditional contraceptive method. The number of modern contraceptive users has nearly doubled worldwide since 1990 (from 467 million). Yet, there are still 164 million women who want to delay or avoid pregnancy and are not using any contraceptive method, and thus are considered to have an unmet need for family planning.
Slow progress is due to factors like limited method choices, restricted access, fear of side effects, cultural opposition, and gender-based barriers.
Between 2015 and 2019, there were 121 million unintended pregnancies annually worldwide – 48 per cent of all pregnancies. Despite decreases in the rate of unintended pregnancy in all regions over the past three decades, nearly one in 10 women in sub-Saharan Africa, Western Asia and Northern Africa, and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand) continue to experience an unintended pregnancy every year
In Uganda, where healthcare services are stretched thin and women juggle numerous responsibilities, accessing contraceptives can be challenging.
Dr. Amongin emphasizes that self-injection methods like DMPA-SC, also known as Sayana Press could ease the burden on women facing long queues and logistical challenges at health facilities. “This method allows for discretion and reduces the need for frequent visits, which is crucial for women with busy lives,” she says.
Researchers argue that the health sector’s budget should include substantial funding for family planning. The high cost of inaction is evident: neglecting family planning leads to unplanned pregnancies, which ultimately burdens families and the nation. Addressing this issue early in the life cycle is crucial to prevent these long-term consequences.
“This is the gist of the matter behind all our research, that a woman’s preference needs to be respected. The health facilities must stock commodities so that when a woman is in need, she actually gets it,” noted Dr. Amongin.
Dr. Peter Waiswa, an Associate Professor at MakSPH, stresses the importance of informed choice in family planning. ICAN studies across Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Uganda show that self-injection benefits all women, including young adolescents. “Supporting young people to make informed choices helps prevent unintended pregnancies,” says Prof. Waiswa.
“We spent four years trying to understand which women benefit from injecting themselves. And we found that all women benefit from it, including younger children. Because younger children in Uganda, whether we hide our heads in the sand or not, especially those 12 years and above are having sex and some of them using contraceptives,” Professor Waiswa says.
What is factually true is that by age 18, 60% of Ugandans have reported having sexual intercourse. Despite the benefits, dropout rates from family planning methods remain high due to side effects and lack of support. Dr. Waiswa also, a Public Health specialist, critique and dreamer for better health systems for mothers, newborns and children in Africa calls for better education and support to address these issues.
“As a way of being supported in a safe space whereby people are not asking questions, they are not fearing parents, they are not fearing other people, then they can use the methods. What we did in Mayuge and Oyam, we trained women who are users of family planning. To identify people who need to use family planning but are not currently using and then they go and see whether they can use or not. And we found that when people are supported, those groups which are currently not being reached can be reached by family planning,” argues Prof. Waiswa.
A 2021 study found that contraceptive discontinuation significantly impacts the effectiveness of family planning services, leading to higher fertility rates, unwanted pregnancies, and induced abortions.
Analysis of data from PMA 2020 show that 6.8% of women discontinued contraceptive use, with discontinuation linked to factors such as age, marital status, method type, and health concerns. The study suggests prioritizing interventions to encourage contraceptive use among young people and promoting partner involvement and awareness, as many contraceptive methods are not discreet.
Prof. Waiswa is concerned of the high dropout rate from family planning methods, where many women discontinue use due to side effects, a need for better education and support.
“We need to see how to educate women so that they are informed when they are choosing a method to use. They need to have enough information because when they discontinue, the method can be ineffective, can cause side effects, but also these methods are expensive, so they waste money. There are a lot of those who change to other methods. We are learning a lot on the use of family planning why we still have a large unmet need,” says Prof. Waiswa.
Ms. Roseline Achola, Technical Specialist for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Self-Care at the Ministry of Health, hailed the MakSPH study on self-injection contraception. She noted that the findings will help her enhance support for self-care initiatives. However, she expressed that only 29% of women willing to self-inject as indicated in the study is still low, highlighting a need to address barriers to increase acceptance as well as managing sexually active adolecents. “We must discuss how to handle minors seeking contraception to prevent unintended pregnancies,” she says.
On Friday August 23, 2024, the Daily Monitor reported, an increase in young girls adopting family planning to combat teenage pregnancies and school dropouts. Quoting data from the Uganda Health Information System, statistics show that between March 2023 and March 2024, 2,476 girls under 15 had their first antenatal care visit, and 1,755 gave birth. The highest number of pregnancies among this age group was in Oyam district.
In this period, Lango subregion saw 52 pregnancies among this age group, with Oyam district recording the highest at 10 cases. The 2021 UNFPA fact sheet indicates that Busoga region, particularly Kamuli and Mayuge districts, has the highest rates of teenage pregnancies, with 6,535 and 6,205 cases respectively.
“As the country, it’s clear that adolescents are limited to access to contraception because of so many reasons. For us as a Ministry, any woman between the age of 15 to 49 is a woman of reproductive age and that tells you that she is capable of getting pregnant and when such a girl of probably 15 years goes to a facility to seek for contraception, it rings a message that actually she is sexually active. So how do we handle her? So that is a matter of discussion for the country.
It is a matter that the nation needs to decide on, because we all know the girls are getting pregnant, the girls want to use contraception, but they have no access because of the fact that they are children,” wondered Achola.
Unintended pregnancies and Uganda’s abortion paradox
Abortion in Uganda, is largely illegal except in specific circumstances. It contributes to maternal death due to unsafe practices. Between 2010 and 2014, WHO reported that 30.6million abortions conducted were safe and 25.1million were unsafe. 97% of these occurred in developing countries. In East Africa, the total number of abortions per year according to the Lancet are around 2.65million.
The Ministry of Health’s HMIS data show a rise in abortion cases, with 96,620 reported between July 2020 and June 2021in both government and private health facilities.
Another recent study on the quality of post-abortion care by MakSPH researchers Assoc. Prof. Lynn Atuyambe, Dr. Justine Bukenya, Dr. Arthur Bagonza and Mr. Sam Etajak highlights the need for accurate post-abortion care data to improve healthcare planning and policymaking.
Dr. Arthur Bagonza, a Public Health Consultant and Research fellow with specialization in health systems at MakSPH and one of the uality of post-abortion care has called for accurate abortion data to improve healthcare planning and policymaking. He notes that health workers often avoid documenting abortion data due to legal fears and calls for reforms to restrictive laws to ensure accurate reporting without legal repercussions.
“All assessed health facilities reviewed in our study achieved a 100% timeliness rate for report submissions. However, significant disparities were observed in data accuracy between different levels of health facilities, with lower-level facilities (HC IIs and HC IIIs) showing higher rates of data discrepancies,” says Dr. Bagonza.
According to Dr. Amongin, the high incidence of early sexual activity among Uganda’s youth is a pressing public health issue.
“We know as a country many women continue to die following unsafe abortions; abortions for pregnancies that they did not want. And these abortions are highest among adolescents and also other women categories.
We would want to ensure that we actually enhance access to contraceptives, but making it easier for them to have it and putting the power in the hands of a woman to as much extent as we can. So that a woman can practice what we call self-care, but of course she also will need the support of the healthcare system. But we want this power in women’s hands because of all the challenges that the women actually can encounter in accessing these methods,” she said.
On her part, Achola insists that abortion should not be a last resort for women and urges them to abstain or use protective means in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies. She notes that as long as abortion remains illegal in Uganda, many health workers will avoid addressing it, leading people to unsafe alternatives.
“I can’t be happy because abortion means we have failed to give people a method of their choice to prevent that pregnancy. Or the people are not able to access contraception to prevent unintended pregnancies. Abortion is not the last resort, it’s not a solution because it has its own complications as well,” says Achola.
Despite this, Achola, notes most of the women who walk in health facilities with post-abortion complications must be attended to. “Whereas we don’t encourage people to do abortions, as Ministry of Health we are mandated to handle all complications for anyone who walks in our facilities because our priority is to save life. We want to urge women to avoid certain things. Why should you wait for unintended pregnancy to occur and then abort?”
Dr. Charles Olaro, a Senior Consultant Surgeon and the Director Health services – Curative in the Ministry of Health highlights the financial burden on individuals seeking health services and suggests exploring private sector opportunities and community-based approaches to improve access. “We need to balance values and rights while addressing access barriers,” he notes.
According to Dr. Olaro, the autonomy and agency of women in sexual and reproductive health, particularly in African cultures remain a challenge where social norms may require women to defer decisions to their partners.
He notes that there is a high burden of abortion and self-harm, with a significant portion of maternal mortality attributed to sepsis, which is often a result of unsafe abortions in Uganda.
“We still need evidence to ensure that access barriers are addressed. And this is a question I keep on asking Makerere University, yes, we have a young population but how are these people accessing contraceptives. Other issue we have to deal with is complex. I know we have to do a balance between values and rights, but we will be able to look at that when they gain the success to do it.”
Dr. Olaro points out that individuals often face a financial burden in health services, spending more on prescriptions than on the medications themselves. He suggests exploring private sector opportunities and a community-based approach to improve access to healthcare.
NB: The PMA surveys are spearheaded by Associate Professor Fredrick Makumbi and Dr. Simon Kibira of MakSPH, with support from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Health. The initiative also receives funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), and is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health at Johns Hopkins University and Jhpiego.
The two-day 2nd Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Health Africa Conference that kicked off today in the Main Hall, Makerere University has been described as not being about technology but about people – the vulnerable communities bearing the burden of infectious diseases and other health challenges – and the promise AI holds as a panacea. Officially opened by Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation the conference will be held under the theme “Setting AI for Sustainable and Inclusive Health Systems in Africa”.
Africa Must Enter the ‘Evil Forest’
In her now characteristic style of speaking from the heart, Hon. Dr. Musenero observed that Africa has from the first industrial revolution to the current fourth and impending fifth industrial revolutions experienced emotions ranging from non-recognition, rejection and skepticism to the current consumption with awe. This current emotion, though receptive unlike previous ones, continues to position Africa at a disadvantage economically, she noted.
“We are positioning ourselves to disadvantage in skill; we have positioned ourselves at the consumption end and we’ve stood in awe of this technology,” she observed, using the example of the amount of admiration a user who whips out the latest iPhone 17 attracts from those around them. “We respect you for your iPhone 17, but I would be happier if you were able to design and manufacture iPhone 5” intimated Hon. Dr. Musenero.
The Minister urged fellow scientists to wake up to the realization that the future of Africa lies in their hands. “We can no longer be passive participants, we can no longer reside on the shallow end of science; we must be willing, as I said when I was here last week, to enter the ‘evil forest’”.
The ‘evil forest’ is Hon. Dr. Musenero’s analogy of Africa’s perception of current technology ecosystem drawing parallels with scenes often dramatized by Nigerian Movies. She notes that though depicted in these movies as scary and potentially dangerous, the ‘evil forest’ is loaded with hidden treasures, necessitating resilience and wisdom for one to navigate the pitfalls until they discover the treasure trove. Upon discovery, the value of this treasure has the potential to turn around the fortunes of the family, community or entire kingdom. Entering the ‘evil forest’ therefore, is her way of encouraging scientists to go beyond adapting imported technology for local use to understanding how it works enough to develop homegrown solutions.
Building AI Capacity through Synergy
Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Academic Registrar, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi concurred with Hon. Dr. Musenero that Uganda needs to accelerate investment capacity in AI, if it is to be used as tool to manage health challenges. He nevertheless underlined the steps Makerere has undertaken to close the gaps by hosting units such as the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), AI and Health Lab, Innovation Pod, while working with various partners.
“We want to renew our commitment that we shall continue to translate our research findings into service delivery and products that improve the livelihoods of our people,” pledged Prof. Buyinza, who also noted that this will be undertaken within institutional ethical guidelines and policies, bolstered by good practices and recommendations arising from the conference.
Taking cognizance of contributions of various partners to strides made so far, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Aminah Zawedde who was represented by Mr. Ambrose Ruyooka, the Ministry’s Head of Department of Research and Development, thanked the Makerere University AI Health Lab, IDI, Health AI for All Network, the Research and Innovation Fund, the African Population and Health Research Centre, and the Mastercard Foundation for convening the second edition of the conference.
“This year’s theme aligns perfectly with Uganda’s digital transformation vision. It reminds us that while innovation is powerful, true progress lies in ensuring it is equitable, ethical, locally relevant, and accessible to all” read Dr. Zawedde’s remarks.
She noted that when used responsibly, AI empowers healthcare workers to do more with greater precision and efficiency while extending services to under-served communities, essentially amplifying their impact whilst preserving the essential human touch that defines care. Dr. Zawedde reiterated the Government of Uganda’s commitment to positioning AI as a catalyst for national development and improved service delivery through the national AI governance framework. “By the end of 2025, we expect to reach a decision on whether to adopt a comprehensive AI policy or a flexible, sector-led regulatory approach.”
Referring to projects already underway at the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), the Principal, Prof. Tonny Oyana underscored the great promise AI holds for not only improving affordability but also diagnosis of disease. He nevertheless called for targeted investment in data centres so as to build the required capacity to process the large amount of data that AI thrives on.
The Executive Director IDI and conference Co-Chair, Dr. Andrew Kambugu described the conference timing as “impeccable”. Citing a recently convened conference on Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases that discussed Universal Health Coverage, he shared “there are people in this country who are one step away from disaster because of health.”
He therefore paid tribute to his conference Co-Chair, Dr. Rose Nakasi, whose AI-automation work with the light microscope, one of game-changing inventions in human medicine to-date, has improved precision, accuracy and efficiency in diagnosis of malaria, tuberculosis and cancer in healthcare facilities. Dr. Kambugu therefore urged his audience to always be eager to learn about the capabilities game changing tools such as AlphaFold.
“Our African Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Data Intensive Science (ACE) in collaboration with CoCIS has been one of the first trainers of AlphaFold in Africa” remarked Dr. Kambugu. He added that the to ensure inclusive training ACE has attracted funding to support the She Data Science (SHEDS) project, an initiative that offers MSc and PhD fellowships to Ugandan women in the fields of data science and bioinformatics, with a strong emphasis on health data.
How Ocular is shaping healthcare
Conference Co-Chair and Principal Investigator of Ocular, Dr. Rose Nakasi noted that their project that aims at empowering healthcare professionals with AI-powered microscopy was motivated by the fact that wrong diagnoses have a cascading effect on prescription, treatment, recommendation and surveillance services. “Where health practitioners have been taking 30 minutes or more to diagnose malaria, and days to diagnose cancers, we are slashing down that time to literally 5 seconds to diagnose and make a recommendation.” She added.
Dr. Nakasi added that beyond diagnosis, the Ocular project is supporting the Ministry of Health with more precise surveillance and monitoring of diseases by quicker augmentation of information for faster roll-out of interventions as opposed to current weekly or monthly reporting period required by the Digital Health Information System (DHIS 2).
“The beauty about AI is that it has the capability not to just learn with one dataset but also provide insights on different pieces of data – for diseases such as malaria where climate has an effect, we want to integrate climate datasets and seasonality aspects so that interventions by Government are timely and targeted to specific locations.”
Beyond the plenary sessions, the 2nd AI in Health Africa Conference will feature abstract presentations, a Makerere AI Health Lab Showcase, Breakout Sessions, Workshops, Masterclasses and a hackathon for prototypes developed during the conference. Please see downloads for a detailed concept and programme.
The Ministry of Health (MoH), Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), Makerere University College of Health Science (MakCHS) and other partners are jointly hosting the National Annual Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases (NACNDC) and 19th Joint Annual Scientific Health (JASH) Conference 2025, running from 3rd to 7th November. Ahead of the official opening on Wednesday, 5th November, a Mental Health Pre-Conference Symposium was held under the theme “Breaking the Silence: Advancing Mental Health Awareness and Resilience,” with a sub-theme on “Advancing Mental Health in Schools and Universities — Research and Policy Perspectives.” The session, held at Victoria Hall, Speke Resort Munyonyo, brought together mental-health experts, policymakers, researchers and education stakeholders to explore how learning institutions can strengthen emotional well-being, resilience and support systems for young people across Uganda.
Speaking as Guest of Honour, Justice Duncan Gaswaga of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights urged stakeholders to recognise the deep connection between mental health and human rights, noting that mental well-being cannot be separated from the social and economic realities in which people live. He commended the theme on “breaking the silence,” arguing that open conversations and early prevention offer the most cost-effective path to protecting communities, especially learners. Drawing from his judicial experience, he shared first-hand accounts of emotional trauma faced by judges who regularly encounter distressing evidence in court, including cases from the LRA conflict, and observed that legal professionals, like health workers and teachers, are not immune to psychological strain. Justice Gaswaga raised concern over rising mental-health challenges in schools and universities, citing data showing increased depression, substance use, and emotional distress among students, particularly girls. He attributed these trends to pressures such as long study hours, parental absence, peer influence, online risks, poverty, and untreated trauma. He called for stronger government funding, implementation of school mental-health policies, closer parental involvement, and coordinated action across sectors, adding that legal reforms, including debate on decriminalising attempted suicide, may be necessary to ensure individuals can seek help without fear of punishment.
The Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG), Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe emphasised the urgent need to prioritise mental health across all sectors, noting that society often treats the subject as taboo despite its profound impact on productivity, ethics and service delivery. She argued that mental well-being is not only a personal concern but a governance issue, pointing out that health workers, who shoulder enormous responsibility, also require structured support systems to safeguard their psychological welfare. Citing recent incidents, including a case in Masaka where a patient reportedly died after a medical worker allegedly refused treatment over a payment dispute, she warned that unresolved mental-health challenges can influence behaviour and decision-making in critical service spaces. The IGG further highlighted a link between mental health and corruption, suggesting that addressing emotional strain and psychological pressures among public servants could contribute to ethical conduct and better public service outcomes. She encouraged continued engagement on the topic, calling for mental-health considerations to be integrated into anti-corruption strategies and institutional reforms, and expressed readiness to contribute more deeply to future discussions.
Delivering the keynote at the Mental Health Pre-Conference Symposium, Dr Racheal Nuwagaba of Makerere University urged stakeholders to confront mental health as it is today and abandon siloed approaches, calling for full integration of services into primary health care and evidence-led policy. She said nearly two decades of clinical practice and teaching have shown her that young people carry mounting pressures, highlighting Uganda’s youthful demographics and pointing to drivers such as sleep deprivation, academic strain, abuse and neglect. Citing recent trends, she warned against sensational statistics and urged clear differentiation between mild, moderate and severe symptoms, noting post-COVID rises in depression, higher burdens among refugees and significant risks for girls and senior students. Dr Nuwagaba stressed the frequent co-occurrence of mental illness with addictions and physical conditions, explaining that untreated disorders worsen over time and can impair brain function, while treatment and adherence improve outcomes. She encouraged mindfulness and presence in classrooms and clinics, and pressed institutions to use research to guide decisions, reduce stigma, and design culturally grounded, community-based responses. Concluding, she appealed for sustained collaboration across sectors and for the deliberate hiring and fair remuneration of professional mental-health providers to safeguard learners’ emotional, social and academic well-being.
The symposium also featured a panel discussion on Mental Health in Schools and Universities, chaired by Dr Kenneth Kalani from the Ministry of Health, and bringing together experts including Dr Harriet Abbe, Prof Ane-Marthe Solheim of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and Ms Rebecca Namakula from the Ministry of Education and Sports. Panelists underscored the urgency of addressing mental-health challenges among learners, with insights highlighting early substance use among children as young as six, the need for teacher training in mental-health literacy, and the critical role of schools as early-detection points. They emphasised stronger linkages between health facilities and learning institutions, investment in prevention and early intervention, and the importance of equipping teachers, parents and school leaders with the skills to identify and respond to distress. The panel agreed that mental-health support must extend across the entire school community and be backed by policy enforcement, coordinated services and sustained collaboration across sectors.
In her closing remarks, Dr Hafsa Lukwata, Assistant Commissioner for Mental Health and Control of Substance Abuse at the Ministry of Health, urged Ugandans to break the silence around mental well-being and be intentional about seeking help and supporting one another. She noted that mental-health challenges are widespread across schools, homes and workplaces, and emphasised that silence only deepens the burden. Dr Lukwata encouraged institutions to appoint mental-health focal persons and called for sustained dialogue, continued collaboration and proactive efforts to build resilience in communities. She reminded participants that improving mental health begins with individual awareness and collective action, urging them to treat the day’s engagement as a starting point for strengthening support systems across the country.
On 24th October 2025, the 3rd cohort (65 professionals) of the ‘Science of Designing Adaptation and Implementation of Evidence–Based Parenting Interventions’ graduated at a ceremony held at Africana Hotel, Kampala, Uganda. The professionals were advised to be good ambassadors and share the knowledge from the training.
The training is a collaboration between Child Health Development Centre (CHDC) at Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) and Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) through their Parenting Agenda Initiative.
The graduation brings the total of those trained to 130 since cohort 1, and marks a significant milestone in the journey of standardising parenting interventions in Uganda and testament of the nation’s commitment to strengthening families and communities.
In his remarks at the graduation, Dr. Godfrey Siu – Senior Lecturer at CHDC, Programme and Course Lead congratulated the participants for successfully completing the intensive parenting course. He said, ‘I am filled with an immense sense of pride and hope, not just for what we have accomplished during the training but the ripple effect this will have across Uganda’.
Dr. Siu highlighted that the course was not conceived in isolation, but is a vital pillar in the ambitious and crucial efforts by the Government of Uganda (GoU) through MoGLSD with an aim to strengthen and standardise parenting interventions in the country.
‘We extend our appreciation to GoU and MoGLSD in particular for the unwavering commitment and steadfast support. The vision for stronger families is a collective one, and leadership by government is its cornerstone. Let us go and build a future where every child in Uganda can thrive in a nurturing, supportive, and loving family’, Dr. Siu said.
Dr. Siu thanked the various partners who supported the training including the ELMA Foundation, Global Parenting Initiative and Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC); facilitators of the programme, drawn from a diverse spectrum of expertise. He advised the graduands to be champions, as standard-bearers for a new-era of parenting in Uganda.
He also called for support from development partners, donors and GoU in funding the next phase of the critical work noting that investment in parenting is an investment in the health, stability, and prosperity of the nation.
Dr. Herbert Muyinda, Director-CHDC noted the multi-dimensional benefits of the course including standardisation. He said, ‘all researchers dream about their work making impact and influence policy which Dr. Siu has achieved with this training programme’.
The Director-CHDC thanked all partners, MakCHS and CHDC administration for ensuring the success of the training. He commended the participants for the commitment and resilience during the training and expressed hope that they will use the knowledge when they return to their communities and organisations.
Professor Richard Idro, Deputy Principal-MakCHS represented the College administration at the graduation. In his speech he congratulated the participants on the milestone, thanked MoGLSD for entrusting the University with this work and also thanked CHDC for undertaking the programme not only for research but also as a contribution to the nation.
Professor Idro noted that parenting today is so different from what many of us experienced, highlighting that many parents work away from home also spending less time with their children.
He said, ‘teachers and carers spend more time with children therefore standardisation from initiatives like this are welcome’.
Highlighting the new strategy of taking the University to communities and solving societal challenges, Professor Idro commended the CHDC for the work which is well aligned to the aforementioned strategy. He called on the graduands to cascade the initiative learned to the lowest level of local governments for the benefit of the whole population.
He expressed hope that for sustainability, funding of the programme would be included in the government budget cycle to ensure continuity. He thanked the UMSC for the support recognising time that Sheikh Ali Waiswa had spent at the event as a sign of commitment to improved parenting in Uganda.
‘Our children are vulnerable, I hope this training takes us back to the basics of parenting. I encourage everyone to start with their family and share with all those around them’, said Dr. Angela Nakafeero – Commissioner for Women and Gender Affairs who represented the Permanent Secretary-MoGLSD, Mr. Aggrey Kibenge.
She thanked partners, MoGLSD departments, and various government institutions that have contributed to work accomplished to-date. She reiterated the message of the previous speakers to the graduands not to keep what they had learned to themselves but share with others. ‘Don’t keep information acquired, share it, make better parents and raise better families’, she said.
‘The ministry remains committed to the parenting agenda. As a nation we have always stressed the importance of cultural and religious appropriateness; the University is on-board to offer technical knowledge and this partnership will continue to deliver results’, Dr. Nakafeero added.
She invited the Chief Guest, Sheikh Ali Waiswa – Deputy Mufti, UMSC who represented the Mufti to address the congregation.
Sheikh Waiswa reminded those present that holy books including the Quran and Bible prescribed the family as the cornerstone of society giving guidance on how to raise good families.
He warned against the increased violence against children present in our communities. Quoting statistics, he expressed disappointment that children endure acts of violence in places meant to be safe havens like homes and schools with acts committed by people meant to be trusted. ‘Nearly 6 out of 10 girls and 7 out of 10 boys have experienced physical violence, while 35% of girls are affected by sexual violence’, he said.
The Deputy Mufti commended the training course for bridging the gap between research and practice, saying it would revolutionise parenting, strengthen families and in-turn society. ‘Don’t underestimate the power of the work you are doing, as we celebrate, let us remember our blue print is this initiative and training’, he said.
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