Mukono – A landmark adolescent health review meeting in Mukono has called on government agencies, NGOs, and health partners to step out of conference rooms and deliver services directly to the communities where young people live.
The meeting, convened at the District Health Boardroom, was jointly organized by the Naguru Teenage Information and Health Centre (NTIHC) and the Mukono District Committee on Adolescent Health (DICAH). It brought together district councillors, health officials, cultural leaders, politicians, and civil society representatives to address pressing health and social challenges facing Uganda’s youth.
NTIHC’s overarching mission is to increase awareness of sexual and reproductive health rights and expand access to youth-friendly services. The meeting provided a platform to assess progress, share research findings, and forge stronger partnerships for adolescent health and empowerment.
Presenting recent data, Mukono District HIV Focal Person Dr. Isaac Dumba warned that Uganda’s rapidly growing youth population poses a looming demographic challenge. “We must stop depending on the wisdom of the elderly alone,” he said. “We must empower the next generation to sustain themselves or we risk a future of social and economic instability.”
District Health Officer Dr. Mulindwa Stephen emphasized the vital role adolescents play in national development, citing historic examples like Dr. Kizza Besigye, who served as a minister at just 27. He raised alarm over rising drug abuse among university students, including reports from Uganda Christian University involving restricted drugs like Pethidine.
Dr. Mulindwa also decried the government’s policy restricting adolescent access to family planning, calling it unrealistic and dangerous. He stressed that without policy reforms, many young people will resort to unsafe, illegal alternatives such as unsafe abortions.
Representing Mukono District Chairperson Hon. Rev. Dr. Peter Bakaluba Mukasa, Vice Chairperson LCV and Secretary for Finance and Administration Hon. Jorem Kabali Kimera echoed the urgency of reaching youth where they are. “We cannot solve these problems by meeting in offices alone,” he said. “We must go to the villages, the schools, and the streets where young people face these challenges daily.”
The meeting also unveiled sobering statistics from UBOS (2023) and recent district health reports:51.1% of Ugandans are under 18; 34.5% are young people, HIV prevalence among 15–24-year-olds is 1.8%, higher among girls, teenage pregnancy is at 24%, substance abuse at 14%, School dropouts by Primary 7 reach 45% and Only 48% of health facilities offer adolescent-friendly services.
Between April and June 2025, HIV testing revealed 36 positives among 2,957 tested girls aged 15–19, and 118 positives among 7,964 tested women aged 20–24. Cervical cancer screening among HIV-positive adolescents showed low treatment uptake in some facilities, with Kyampisi HCIII registering zero treatment despite 25% positivity.
Stakeholders resolved to: Strengthen mental health services in schools, introduce comprehensive sexuality education, deploy health workers and counsellors in schools, Launch mass sensitization campaigns at the village level and Plan and budget jointly for youth health and well-being.
Speaker of Mukono District Council, Rt. Hon. Betty Hope Nakasi, urged programs to also address the boy child, noting he is often left behind. She advocated for healthier lifestyles, environmental change, and extending sexuality education to school dropouts and marginalized adolescents.
The Mukono DICAH review meeting, supported by Naguru Teenage Centre, made one point clear: Uganda’s future hinges on the health, education, and empowerment of its youth. With over half the population under 18, the choices made today whether in policy, funding, or community action will define the nation’s destiny. Stakeholders agreed that it is no longer enough to talk; it is time to take services beyond the boardrooms and into the communities where the next generation is being shaped.
