The Lango, Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions are set to benefit from a €3.42 million (about Shs14 billion) project aimed at expanding access to sexual and reproductive health services, strengthening the justice system and protecting women and girls from gender-based violence.
The three-year initiative, known as the Sexual and Reproductive Health, Access to Justice, Freedom, Equality and Rights (SAFER) Project, was launched on October 23, 2026, at the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) Towers in Kampala.
The 2026–2029 programme is expected to reach 830,872 direct beneficiaries, mainly women, adolescent girls, persons with disabilities and underserved communities.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Robert Kasande, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving access to justice, protecting fundamental rights and promoting the dignity and freedoms of women and girls.
Kasande, together with Rachel Odoi, a senior technical adviser at the JLOS Secretariat, hosted the signing of a tripartite agreement involving the governments of Uganda and Austria and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
He said sustained collaboration and government ownership would be critical to consolidating gains from previous phases and ensuring the project’s long-term impact.
The project will expand integrated sexual and reproductive health services, strengthen the prevention of and response to gender-based violence, and improve access to legal assistance in the three sub-regions.
It will also support justice and human rights institutions, including the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, Uganda Human Rights Commission and Local Council Courts, to improve service delivery.
To address delays in the justice system, the programme will support special court sessions and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms intended to help reduce case backlogs.
Other interventions will target harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage, as well as emerging forms of violence, including technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
Speaking at the launch, the Head of the Austrian Embassy in Uganda, Dr. Katja K., reaffirmed Austria’s commitment to strengthening the rule of law and protecting the rights of vulnerable populations.
UNFPA Uganda country representative Kristine Blokhus said the organisation would continue supporting survivors of gender-based violence to access timely, dignified and survivor-centred services through integrated health, justice and protection systems.
The project will adopt a systems-strengthening approach, embedding interventions within existing national institutions and structures to promote continuity beyond the funding period. Civil society organisations, including the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), will also participate in implementation.
The initiative aligns with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and forms part of broader efforts to improve access to justice, protect fundamental rights and expand essential services for women and girls in underserved communities.
The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs expressed appreciation to the Government of Austria and UNFPA for their continued partnership in strengthening justice, health and protection services in Uganda.