Policy Advocacy and Legal Reform: Strengthening Protections for Uganda’s Girls

Girls Not Brides Uganda (GNBU) is at the forefront of lobbying for systemic change, utilizing collaborative platforms that bridge the gap between grassroots realities and national policy. Our advocacy focuses on ensuring that the protection of girls from child marriage and teenage pregnancy is backed by robust legal frameworks and dedicated government resources.

Strategic Budget and Policy Influence

To translate high-level commitments into concrete actions, GNBU employs a multi-faceted advocacy strategy:

• Gender-Responsive Budgeting: We conduct rigorous budget analysis to ensure public funds are allocated equitably. By examining how budgets impact girls and women differently, we promote transparency and push for efficient resource allocation that addresses the root causes of child marriage.
• Direct Parliamentary Engagement: Through our members’ “on-the-ground” expertise, we provide parliamentarians with empirical data and lived experiences. This ensures that national policy decisions are informed by the actual challenges faced by vulnerable communities.
• The Parliamentary Forum for Children (UPFC): GNBU has established a structured partnership with the UPFC to review laws and initiate child-focused bills. This collaboration allows us to champion child rights amidst competing national priorities and hold the government accountable for child welfare.

National Coordination and Information Systems

GNBU is an active member of the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee (IMSC) on Child Wellbeing, guided by the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MGLSD).

• Systemic Upgrades: In September 2025, GNBU leaders participated in proposing transitions to a more comprehensive Child Well-being Management Information System. This update is crucial for better tracking of the National Strategy to end Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy.
• Policy Implementation: We continue to contribute to discussions on the National Child Policy 2020, identifying cross-cutting issues that hinder the protection of children at both national and district levels.

Building Legal and Advocacy Alliances

Our advocacy extends to specialized legal and civil society networks to provide a holistic shield for children:

• Uganda Catholic Lawyers Association: Following the 8th National Girl Summit, we are exploring a partnership to provide legal aid and representation for affected children and their families, ensuring that the law works for those who need it most.
• Uganda Child Rights NGO Network (UCRNN): Between October and December 2025, the GNBU Secretariat held multiple meetings with UCRNN to formalize a joint advocacy front. With over 150 child-focused organizations, this partnership aims to close marriage age loopholes, conduct joint data collection on rights violations, and lead local dialogues in high-prevalence regions.

Community-Led Accountability

We recognize that national reform must be supported by local action. Through Community-led Mobilization, we engage cultural, religious, and political leaders to become local champions for change. By linking grassroots action to national policy discussions and leveraging media (radio and drama), we empower communities to demand government accountability for international commitments like Sustainable Development Goal 5.3.

By closing legal loopholes, enforcing existing protections, and securing gender-responsive budgets, GNBU and our partners are systematically dismantling the structures that allow child marriage to persist.