In many communities across Busoga, conversations about sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) are not the norm. For many young people, the silence is not just cultural, it is protective. But change begins when that silence is broken. From 7th to 10th April 2026, at Gratias Hotel, Mayuge, a group of young people came together not just to learn, but to challenge norms, share experiences, and rethink the role they play in their communities.
Under the ACT4Y-SRHR project, SRHR Alliance Uganda brought together youth champions from Mayuge and Namayingo districts for a three-day capacity building training focused on SGBV prevention and Gender Transformative Approaches. The participants were young leaders, already active in their communities, now stepping into a bigger role as agents of change.
The training created a safe space for open and honest dialogue. Through group discussions, role plays, and experience sharing, participants unpacked what SGBV looks like in their everyday lives. They spoke about early pregnancies, school dropouts, and the pressures young girls face in fishing and mining communities.
Building Skills That Matter
Beyond understanding the problem, the training focused on solutions. Youth champions were equipped with practical skills to identify, respond to, and refer SGBV cases safely. They learned the importance of survivor-centred approaches listening without judgment, offering support, and connecting survivors to the right services.
Participants also explored Gender Transformative Approaches, challenging long-held beliefs about gender roles and power dynamics. For many, this was a turning point realizing that change begins with questioning what has always been accepted.
Youth champions developed action plans tailored to their communities. Some committed to organizing school visits and community dialogues. Others focused on working with religious and local leaders, while some prioritized monthly outreach activities to raise awareness and support survivors.
These plans were not theoretical they were practical, realistic, and owned by the young people themselves.
A Growing Movement of Change Makers
The impact of the training goes beyond the three days spent in Mayuge. It is aimed at creating a network of informed, confident youth champions can now be equipped with accurate information to speak out, educate others, and challenge harmful practices in their communities. The training also ensured increased growth of peer networks and more people openly talking about SGBV. Youth champions were also encouraged to step forward, not just as participants, but as leaders
Looking Ahead
Sexual and gender-based violence remains a complex challenge, deeply rooted in culture, inequality, and silence. But initiatives like this show that change is possible especially when young people are at the center.
As SRHR Alliance Uganda continues its work, one thing is clear: when young people are empowered with knowledge, skills, and confidence, they do not just transform their own lives, they transform their communities.