Mukono– Somero Initiative Uganda, in partnership with Mukono District Local Government, last week officially launched the REAL Fathers Project, an initiative aimed at strengthening responsible fatherhood and improving early childhood development within communities.
The project was introduced during a district inception meeting held at the District Community Development Officer’s office, bringing together district leaders, technical officers and representatives from various departments to discuss the implementation of the programme and the role stakeholders will play in its success.
According to Lindah Nambusi, Assistant Project Manager at Somero Initiative Uganda, the organization was established in 2009 by a group of young people living in the slums of Kawempe Division in Kampala. Since its founding, the organization has been working to promote and protect the rights of vulnerable children and young women by providing education support, skills training, livelihood development and reproductive health programmes.
Nambusi explained that through the support of the Impact and Innovations Development Centre (IIDC) and funding from the LEGO Foundation, Somero Initiative Uganda secured resources to implement the REAL Fathers Project across the West Buganda region, covering districts including Mukono District, Buikwe District, Kayunga District, Luwero District, Nakasongola District, Nakaseke District, Rakai District, Kyotera District, Lwengo District and Lyantonde District.
The REAL Fathers Program is an evidence-based mentoring initiative designed to bridge the gap between young fathers aged 16 to 25 years and their families.
The programme promotes responsible fatherhood, positive parenting and improved early childhood development for children aged 0–3 years through community mentorship, behavioral change communication and stakeholder collaboration.
The initiative has been endorsed by the Government of Uganda for national scale-up because of its positive impact in reducing violence against children and intimate partner violence while encouraging non-violent discipline and shared parenting responsibilities.
Under the programme, Somero Initiative Uganda plans to reach 136,000 children, 90,667 young fathers and 90,667 spouses over a four-year period. The implementation will involve government officials, cultural leaders, religious leaders and community structures working together to promote responsible parenting.
At district level, stakeholders will support monitoring of programme activities, integrate the initiative into district development plans, strengthen partnerships and increase community awareness on the importance of responsible fatherhood.
The project will also involve village-level inception meetings, joint field visits and the identification of mentors who will guide young fathers through community-based mentorship programs. Somero Initiative Uganda also pledged to provide a small token of support to the District Action Centre and committed to supporting one boy child each year as part of its broader mission of strengthening family wellbeing.
While representing the Chief Administrative Officer Ddamba Henry, the Clerk to Council Eunice Alowo reaffirmed the district’s commitment to supporting the programme. She noted that the initiative is one of the first programmes in the district specifically designed to empower and support the boy child, an area that has often received limited attention in development programmes.
The District Community Development Officer Minisa Namukose Kirya urged stakeholders to actively participate in identifying priority areas of implementation across sub-counties and to strengthen community sensitization so that young fathers can embrace responsible parenting.
She further pledged to present the programme to the district technical team and later to the district council to ensure that the initiative receives wider understanding and support from district leadership.
Also speaking during the meeting, Patrick Balilonda from the District Planning Department commended Somero Initiative Uganda for introducing what he described as a unique programme targeting the empowerment of the boy child and young fathers.
The launch of the REAL Fathers Project marks an important step toward strengthening family structures and improving early childhood development in Mukono District.
Through collaboration between Somero Initiative Uganda, district leadership and community stakeholders, the initiative is expected to promote responsible fatherhood, reduce family violence and empower young fathers to actively participate in the upbringing of their children.
Leaders expressed optimism that the programme will not only strengthen families but also contribute to the long-term wellbeing and development of children and communities across the district.
