By Johannah Nantongo
KAMPALA — Austria, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Government of Uganda have launched a €3.2 million (about Shs15.45 billion) initiative to improve services for survivors of gender-based violence and strengthen access to justice.
The 30-month Sexual and Reproductive Health, Access to Justice, Freedom, Equality and Rights (SAFER) Project will run from September 2026 to February 2029, targeting the Karamoja, Acholi and Lango sub-regions.
The programme aims to benefit about 830,000 people directly and reach 186,000 people considered at risk of gender-based violence. It will strengthen healthcare, psychosocial support, legal assistance and the handling of cases within the justice system.
Dr Katja Kerschbaumer, Head of the Austrian Embassy in Kampala, highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting that lifetime spousal violence affects 69.2 per cent of women in Karamoja and 48.6 per cent in Lango, compared with 61.3 per cent nationally. She also said only 28 per cent of health facilities in Karamoja provide comprehensive clinical management of rape.
UNFPA Uganda Country Representative Kristine Blokhus said previous project phases supported special court sessions that helped conclude 785 gender-based violence cases. She added that the proportion of reported cases taken to court rose from 40.6 per cent in 2022 to 45.6 per cent in 2024.
The new phase will also address harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation, alongside economic, psychological and technology-facilitated abuse. Adolescents, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups will be prioritised in efforts to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services.
Robert Kasande, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with the partners to improve coordination and ensure the initiative delivers measurable results.
The project aligns with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan for 2025/26–2029/30 and Vision 2040. Its partners say strengthening government institutions will be essential to ensuring survivors receive timely healthcare, protection and justice beyond the funding period.