To highlight the urgent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and broader health issues affecting communities across the country, Oxfam and partners, along with other CSOs, recently met with members of parliament in Kampala.
The meeting brought together Members of Parliament from the Health Committee, Civil Society Representatives - including CEHURD, Oxfam, SRHR Alliance, IPPF and government line Ministries and Departments (Ministries of Gender Labor and Social Development, Lands, Health and Finance, Uganda Planning Authority and Equal Opportunities Commission).
According to Wilson Senyonyi, the Stand-UP for SRHR project lead, the two-day engagement organized by CEHURD aimed to follow up on previously made commitments to improve health outcomes. It also sought to strengthen these commitments, considering emerging priorities as the country approaches elections in the coming year.

Stand Up for SRHR Project Lead Wilson Senyonyi speaking at the engagement with Members of Parliament.
Key issues affecting SRHR that were raised include cultural and legal misalignment contracting a lot for example on issues around bride price, disco Matanga, property rules and respect, teenage pregnancy rates remain at 24% national level with Busoga region remaining as the region with the highest teenage pregnancies at 26%.
Also highlighted were the gaps in existing laws regarding SRHR, limited digitalization of health care, increasing disease burden including HIV/Aids and TB, limited national health budget (0.7%), reducing funding opportunities and the lack of a comprehensive sexuality education framework.
Following the discussions, key commitments were made including: the need to accelerate progress towards universal health care, investment in education to reduce child and teenage pregnancies, revitalizing maternal and child health gains, tracking and managing non communicable diseases including mental health related diseases and addressing health workforce shortages.
Other commitments are on inclusion of specific provisions on health in the law, enactment and implementation of the national health insurance bill, investment in health infrastructure development and continuous engagement with political wings addressing negative cultural norms and male engagement in all SRHR interventions among others.
Under the Stand-UP for SRHR project - funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Oxfam in Uganda and partners including CEHURD, Femme Forte Uganda, Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) and Makerere University School of Public Health aim to increase enjoyment of SRHR by most marginalized and vulnerable right-holders, particularly adolescent girls and young women.
The project is being implemented in the districts of Mayuge and Namayingo, Nebbi, Madi Okollo, Arua, and Terego where it addresses key gender inequality and human rights issues.
The engagement with members of the parliamentary health committee provided a good platform for civil society to continue advocating for SRHR issues that need combined efforts from different stakeholders to be addressed.