In a bold effort to spotlight reproductive health and justice issues affecting young people, Reach A Hand Uganda and Afya na Haki convened a dynamic pre-Baraza dialogue on Monday, ahead of the main four-day Reproductive Justice Baraza.
The 3rd Annual Reproductive Justice Litigation Dialogue, dubbed GN Trybe Billi Now Now Pre-Youth Baraza, brought together youth, legal experts, activists, and healthcare professionals at Serena Hotel, Kigo. The discussions centred on unsafe healthcare, restrictive reproductive laws, and systemic discrimination that hinder access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services, especially among marginalized communities.
Held under the broader theme “Incarceration and SRHR in Africa: Defining Pathways to Reproductive Justice,” the pre-Baraza fostered intergenerational dialogue and encouraged youth-driven advocacy, legal reform, and movement-building across Uganda and beyond.
The forum examined how structural barriers, including legal frameworks, detention policies, and policing practices, continue to limit reproductive autonomy for youth.
“This is more than a talk shop,” said Humphrey Nabimanya, CEO of Reach A Hand Uganda. “From menstrual health in detention to the criminalisation of abortion, and access to legal aid and dignity while locked up, these are real issues. But so are our solutions. Let’s bring the vibes, the ideas, and the truth to spark a real shift.”
Participants called for more inclusive and humane reproductive health systems that respect dignity, autonomy, and equitable access.
Senior Superintendent of Police Jackson Muchunguzi addressed the emotional toll incarceration has on young people, particularly those from broken or unsupported family structures. “You may be young, but you’re not too young to do the right thing,” he urged, highlighting systemic child protection failures and the dire conditions in remand homes across the country.
Afya na Haki presented research exposing cases of infanticide and reproductive injustice in Ugandan prisons. One case detailed the imprisonment of a 15-year-old girl who gave birth alone, a chilling example that underscored the urgent need for reform in education, family planning, and justice systems.
The youth-led Pre-Baraza set the tone for the larger Reproductive Justice Baraza taking place from August 5-8, bringing together stakeholders across Africa to redefine SRHR strategies in the context of incarceration and institutional oppression.