4th National Stakeholders Dialogue on Adolescent Health/ EmpowerHER Schools project, Mukono

Name of Organisation: Peer To Peer Uganda (PEERU)

PEERU’s 2025 Action to End Child Marriages and Teenage Pregnancies In 2025 (January to July 2025), Peer To Peer Uganda (PEERU) significantly advanced efforts to end child marriages and teenage pregnancies through impactful school-based programming and national-level advocacy.

The EmpowerHER Project, implemented in five schools across Mukono District—Maziba Church of Uganda Primary School, Kojja Secondary School, St. Mary’s Terere Primary School, Ntenjeru Parents High School, and Namakwa Secondary School—improved menstrual health awareness, reduced stigma, and promoted supportive school environments. 25 students (5 per school), including adolescent girls and supportive boys, were trained as peer health club leaders. Each trained student mentored 13 others, producing 90 menstrual health champions.

One male student from each school was trained as a male menstrual health ally, normalizing inclusive conversations. In addition, 13 strategically selected teachers (including male role models) were trained to lead school-based menstrual health efforts. All schools activated or strengthened health clubs, installed talking compound signage, and integrated menstrual health into school assemblies and PTA meetings. Despite a reduced budget (£1,000) and shortened 5-month implementation period, the project indirectly reached over 3,000 community members through peer-led and teacher-led outreach.

Nationally, PEERU convened the 4th National Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Adolescent Health, held from 4th–5th June 2025 at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala. The dialogue, brought together the JLOS sector, key ministries,adolescents, CSOs, youth networks, cultural and religious leaders, and development partners, brought together 327 participants. Themed “Strengthening Legal and Justice Systems for Adolescent Health and Wellbeing,” the dialogue spotlighted legal barriers to SRHR services for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW).

It created a safe, inclusive space for discussing teenage pregnancy, sexual violence, harmful practices, and the need for multi-sectoral collaboration. Key follow-up actions include a youth-led advocacy roadmap, district-level commitments, and stronger school–community protection linkages.