Progress grows when people come together.

National Stakeholder Dialogue on Ending Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy in Uganda: Outcomes and Recommendations

What Uganda's Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy Means for its Children.

Uganda has made significant progress in expanding access to Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE). However, this progress begins too late in a child’s development journey. Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), which serves children aged 0–6 years, is largely privatized and inaccessible for many families.

The International Day of the Girl Child 2025

On 11th October 2025, Joy for Children Uganda (JFCU) commemorated the International Day of the Girl Child at the Uganda National Theatre in Kampala. Under the theme “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis,” the event celebrated the resilience, leadership, and creativity of girls, providing them with a platform to express their views, experiences, and aspirations through arts, crafts, poetry, and drama.

DISSEMINATION MEETING FOR RESEARCH FINDINGS ON THE LEGAL RESEARCH ON LAWS GOVERNINGCHILD MARRIAGE IN UGANDA

On November 15, 2024, Joy for Children Uganda (JFCU) convened a critical dissemination meeting to unveil findings from a research study on the legal frameworks governing child marriage in Uganda. The event, held in collaboration with the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), sought to highlight legal gaps and propose reforms to strengthen protections for children against early marriages.

COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH TO RAISE AWARENESS ON SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONPREVENTION, PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL CARE AND FAMILY PLANNING IN THE SLUMS OF KAMPALA

On November 14, 2024, Joy for Children Uganda (JFCU) organized a transformative community awareness session in Bukoto, Kampala, focusing on sexually transmitted infections (STIs), prenatal and postnatal care, and family planning. This initiative aimed to address pressing health challenges in Kampala slum communities, where limited access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities perpetuates cycles of poverty and vulnerability, particularly for women and girls.

Capacity Building Workshop for Community Based Organizations on Communications

Joy for Children Uganda (JFCU) hosted a two-day Capacity Building Workshop on September 26th and 27th, 2024, aimed at strengthening the communication skills of the Girls First Fund (GFF) grantees. This workshop was designed to equip community-based organizations with the tools and knowledge necessary to effectively communicate their work in ending child marriage and advocating for children’s rights. With 43% of girls in Uganda married before the age of 18, according to the 2016 Demographic Health Survey, the need for impactful communication has never been more pressing. Effective communication strategies can help amplify the message, mobilize community support, and influence policy changes.

STAKEHOLDERS DIALOGUE ON LAYING STRATAGIES TO END CHILD MARRIAGE AND TEENAGE PREGNANCY IN LANGO SUB-REGION

Joy For Children Uganda (JFCU) with support from Girls First Fund convened a stakeholder dialogue at Pacific Hotel, in Lira district, focusing on laying strategies to end child marriage and teenage pregnancy in Lango sub-region. The dialogue brought together a diverse group of participants, including cultural leaders, Lira District officials, representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs), and religious leaders, all united in their commitment to tackling this pressing issue.

The 6th National Girl Summit- 2023

The 6th National Girl Summit aims at convening several delegates including children, youth, officials from different Ministry Department Agencies, UN agencies and other development partners, district leaders, faith and cultural leaders, private sector such as school administrators, media and CSOs plus voices of children to reflect on the progress made in ending child marriage and teenage pregnancy both at regional and national level.

Day of the African Conference

The Day of the African Child (DAC) is commemorated annually on June 16th in honor of children who participated in the Soweto Uprising of 1976. DAC is of significance to African children and calls for serious introspection and commitment towards addressing the numerous challenges facing children across the continent. Governments, NGOs, and other multi-sectoral stakeholders gather to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the full realization of the rights of children in Africa. This year we are celebrating DAC under the theme: “Promoting and Protecting Children’s Rights in Schools”

Capacity building workshop for members of parliament on laws/frameworks andpolicies that align with 2020 UN General Assembly Resolution on child and early andforced marriage

Joy for Children- Uganda organized a one day capacity building workshop for Members of Parliament on laws/frameworks and policies that align with 2020 UN General Assembly Resolution on child and early and forced marriage (A/RES/75/167). Some of these frameworks include the National Strategy to end child marriage and teenage pregnancy (2022/23-2026/27), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) model law.

Follow up meeting with Members of Parliament on the enatchment of the Sexual Offences Bill 2019

Joy for Children- Uganda to conducted a follow up meeting with the parliamentarians to track progress on status of the bill as per the last engagement and strategize on the way forward.

Central Region learning and sharing event 2023

This Experience and learning sharing workshop was hinged on the Girls Not Brides Uganda’s principle among others of sharing success stories and learning on what’s working to improve the lives of girls.