At the premiere of the documentary Youth at the Crossroads: Sex and Climate held at the American Center in Kampala, Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) called on the government and stakeholders to integrate sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) into national climate change policies. This move, RAHU asserts, could reduce the risks of sexual violence faced by girls and women in rural areas.
Produced by Sauti Plus Media Hub with support from the Hewlett Foundation, the documentary spotlights the current state of SRHR in Apodorwa and Nyamahasa villages in Kiryandongo District. It reveals how climate-related challenges, such as drought, are driving up school dropout rates among girls and increasing their exposure to sexual violence. In many rural communities, girls and women bear the responsibility of gathering water and other resources for domestic use, a burden made heavier by climate disruptions.
James Tumusiime, RAHU’s Country Director, explained, “This documentary emerged from community engagement sessions in Kiryandongo, Yumbe, and Kasese. These interactions exposed sociocultural norms that hinder reproductive health rights, especially for young women and girls.”
Through the documentary, RAHU aims to shed light on the impacts of limited legislation and inadequate access to SRHR services. Tumusiime emphasized the need for stakeholders to support progressive policies on issues such as sexual violence, teenage pregnancies, and other SRHR challenges.
During a panel discussion, Agnes Ssebowa from the Ministry of Health’s Adolescent Health Department highlighted that beyond teenage pregnancies, rural communities are also witnessing a rise in urogenital infections. These infections are often linked to poor menstrual hygiene due to limited access to clean water.
Panelists included Raymond Ruyoka from the Youth Advocacy and Development Network Uganda (YADNET), youth advocate Muyama Shaima Kemigisha, and journalist Canary Mugume. Ruyoka stressed the importance of gathering climate-related data locally and using platforms like radio to reach rural youth and influence policy.
The event concluded with the presentation of a paper calling for specific actions from the government and other stakeholders. Recommendations included adopting a multisectoral approach to address climate change and SRHR, incorporating climate justice and SRHR into school curricula, improving data collection on climate impacts on youth, strengthening community resilience, investing in youth-led climate initiatives, and fostering global and local partnerships for sustainable, context-based climate solutions.
