For the last four years, Bulamu Gonza, the Senior Probation and Social Welfare Officer of Namayingo district has been engaged in the implementation of Stand-Up project in Namayingo District.

Stand-Up project, funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), is implemented by Oxfam, CEHURD, Femme Forte Uganda, Reproductive Health Uganda, and the School of Public Health – Makerere University.

According to Gonza, what makes the Stand-Up project unique is its integrated approach. “Many projects only engage adolescents at health centers, but the Stand-Up Project has taken a broader, multisectoral approach, bringing health, education, and community-based services together. It ensures that both in-school and out-of-school youth get the help they need,”

“Many projects only engage adolescents at health centers, but the Stand-Up Project has taken a broader, multisectoral approach, bringing health, education, and community-based services together. It ensures that both in-school and out-of-school youth get the help they need”

Bulamu Gonza
The Senior Probation and Social Welfare Officer, Namayingo District

Gonza says that it isn’t only students who need guidance on SRH issues. “There are many young people outside school who need to be empowered and sensitised”. 

Gonza points out that the health clubs that have been established in schools are empowering students and pupils to lead their peers in conversations about menstruation, abstinence, and the dangers of early marriage and drug abuse.

The project has also facilitated the district leaders hold community dialogues with parents and guardians. “These engagements help bridge generational gaps. It’s crucial that young people understand themselves, but it’s just as important that parents understand their children too,’’ Gonza says.

Bulamu Gonza, Senior Probation and Social Welfare Officer of Namayingo District

Bulamu Gonza, Senior Probation and Social Welfare Officer of Namayingo District

He adds that misinformation about sexual health has long fueled teenage pregnancies and poor health outcomes in the district. However, through the peer-to-peer approach promoted by the Stand-Up Project, young people are now learning from each other and sharing experiences and reliable information.

“They know the realities of the youth because they’ve lived them. Their involvement has helped address the myths and misinformation that often lead to risky health behavior,” Gonza said.

As a result, the changes are already evident. “We’ve seen a rise in the number of people reaching out for help. Young people are more confident. They know where to find support, and they are building self-esteem that will carry them through life,” Gonza says.

With funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Oxfam, CEHURD, Femme Forte Uganda, and Reproductive Health Uganda and School of Public Health – Makerere University are implementing six and a half years Stand-Up for SRHR project.  The project addresses key gender inequality and human rights issues, particularly harmful social norms, traditional harmful practices, and taboos regarding gender and sexuality; lack of adequate information on or access to comprehensive SRHR services; and lack of meaningful decision-making power by young women and girls regarding their health and sexuality. This project is implemented in Uganda, Mozambique, and Canada.