Over the years, NCD Uganda has implemented impactful projects aimed at social transformation. Some of our past projects include:
From 2020, with support from the Paul Hodges Trust, NCD implemented a project titled; Empowered Women, Better Lives. This project aimed at empowering victims of child, early /forced marriages with comprehensive and appropriate information on life skills and alternative Income generating activities, increasing knowledge of and access to appropriate sexual reproductive health and rights information among out of school youths and supporting women to adopt Climate Smart Agricultural practices to minimize land degradation and increase agricultural production in Buikwe and Mukono Districts.
Through project interventions, 10 girls were equipped with skills in interior and exteriors designing/painting, 80 young women equipped with skills in tailoring and business management (customer care, branding, costing, opportunity identification, marketing, efficiency and creativity), these young girls and women received sewing machines as startup capital to support them establish their own business after completion of training. 50 farmers were trained in climate smart agricultural practices, 20 of these farmers also were trained in piggery rearing and provided with 2 piglets each to start piggery enterprise, these women report an improvement in crop growth and yields as they harvest up to 20 to 50 banana bunches per harvest and this is due to routine addiction of manure they get from pigs. 34 women were trained in financial management and supported in forming a saving group.
In Uganda, many students believe that joining the university means enjoyment of rights with limited guidance from adults. Kyambogo University enrolls at least 20, 000 students per year, unfortunately, some students engage in alcohol abuse exposing them to sexual exploitation, failure/ delay to complete their courses and risk factors for NCDs. A 2013 study by Uganda Harm Reduction Network (UHRN) found that 22 % of students abused drugs and no school was free of drug abuse, with prevalence of alcohol abuse among university students standing at 55 %. (International Journal of Medical Science & Health Science Vol 2. No 6.2018).
From 2021 to 2022, with financial support from Astra Zeneca- Young Health Programme, NCD implemented a one-year project titled “Say No to Alcohol Abuse among University Students in Uganda” in Kyambogo University Community, Kampala District aimed at increasing awareness among university students on the dangers of alcohol abuse and the risk factors of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
The project empowered 40 health ambassadors (18 males, 22 female) ambassadors with skills and knowledge on how to provide timely information and support on preventing alcohol abuse and Non-Communicable Diseases. These reached more than 2500 university students with information on prevention alcohol abuse.
From 2017 to 2019, with support from RTI-USAID/Uganda Literacy Achievement and Retention Activity (LARA), NCD worked with 202 school communities in Mukono, 50 school communities in Lyantonde and 33 school communities in Buhweju districts to contribute to increased community and household level involvement in primary literacy attainment, strengthen the capacity of communities to support School Related Gender Based Violence (SRGBV) prevention and responses.
We trained 504 CCAs who spear headed dialogues on SRGBV prevention reaching 28,342 persons, we established and strengthened 285 School Community Case Management committees to report, track, refer and respond to case of SRGBV.
NCD addressed sexual related gender-based violence in 285 school communities in Uganda. We trained 11,400 child monitors who shared information on detecting early warning signs of violence and preventing sexual abuse. We trained. Children reported 3 cases of defilement and perpetuators were sentenced by court, 6 teenage mothers re-joined school, 114,032 pupils are were of early warning signs of sexual abuse.
In 2019, with support from Amplify Change, NCD implemented a 2-year project titled “Her Right, Her Voice” which aimed at empowering young people, teachers and parents on issues of SRHR especially sexuality, how to communicate to young people on issues of sexuality and identifying early warning signs of sexual abuse in 20 schools (10 in Mukono, 10 in Lyantonde) and 6 health center III 3 in Mukono, 3 in Lyantonde).
The project strengthened the capacity of 420 youths, 20 teachers and 140 parents with knowledge and skills to provide and advocate for young adolescent SRHR. NCD reoriented 16 health workers on provision of youth friendly SRH services, conducted 48 integrated outreaches reaching 11,323 young people and established 6 youth corners. There was a 30 % increase in number of young people accessing SRHR information, improved parental support for young people taking up family planning services.
Strengthening Access to SRHR
In 2018, with support from Amplify Change, NCD implemented a one-year project titled Strengthening Access to SRHR Information and Services in Uganda aimed at empowering pupils, teachers and parents with knowledge and skills on sexual reproductive health, menstrual hygiene management and making of reusable pads to ensure that young people complete the primary cycle. The project was implemented 10 universal primary schools (Ntunda R/C P/S, Ntunda C/U P/S, Kyabazaala Public P/S, Kyajja P/S, Walubira P/S, Kisoga Mumyuka P/S, Kiyiribwa P/S, St. Kizito Joggo R/C P/S, Kabawala P/S and Kasana UMEA P/S) in Mukono district.
The project equipped 700 pupils and 250 parents with skills on making reusable pads, maintaining proper hygiene during menstrual periods, age appropriate SRH information to make informed decisions, and detecting early warning signs to sexual abuse
In 2015, with support from USAID / UKAID Governance, Accountability, Participation and Performance (GAPP)Program, Network for Community Development (NCD) in Partnership with Community Centre Health Foundation (CCHF) implemented a 2 year project titled “Promoting Improved Service Delivery in the Health and Education sectors in Uganda” in which 60 children from (Naama Church of Uganda P/S, St. Joseph Nambute P/S, Sekanyonyi Church of Uganda P/S, Taamu Islamic P/S, Bulera Church of Uganda P/S, Kabaseke Islamic P/S) in Mityana district monitor the implementation of the UPE program.
As a result of the advocacy, the number of pupils feeding in the targeted schools increased by 52 %. More still, 40 community members accessing health services from Kabule HC III, Kabuwambo HC II, Ssekanyonyi HC IV and Bulera HCIII were trained to monitor service delivery in their health centres. There was 18% increase in number of young people accessing SRH and maternal health services at the targeted facilities, government enrolled additional 3 midwives to improve service delivery, illegal user fees were scrapped in the targeted facilities, a 32 % increase in the number of mothers taking up 4 ANC consultation visits.
NCD with support from Albertine Rift Conservation Society -ARCOS implemented a project titled Strengthening Community Watershed Management in Uganda in Buhugu and Busulani Sub County which aimed at promoting community approaches for improved watershed management and livelihoods of communities in Sironko District.
The project equipped 60 farmers with skills in Climate Smart Agriculture, 31 farmers were linked to agricultural loans, one soil and water conservation demonstration farm was set up, 63 land owners and users along Mahapa river bank were equipped with knowledge and skills on river bank management, roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in river bank management.
Uganda holds high maternal mortality rates, which is often reflective of access to health care services. Ugandan women seek to handle birth on their own as it is a time when they can use their own power and make their own decisions leading to high maternal mortality rate. in a move to address this challenge, in 2013, with support from Akiiba Uhaki Foundation, NCD implemented a 9 months project entitled Health Advocacy Initiative aimed at contributing to equitable access to quality maternal health care services among women in Sironko District.
The project targeted both male and female community members who seek health services at Buwasa and Budadiri Health Centre IV. Community members were trained as Health Advocates in order to monitor health service delivery at the health centre. In addition, health centre advocacy meetings, citizen report cards, constructive dialogues, talk shows and feedback meetings were held and aimed at improving maternal health service delivery.
As a result, 543 community members were sensitized on patients’ rights and responsibilities, monitoring of drug stock outs, mama kits and health worker absenteeism and 100 % of all mothers attending ANC received free Mama Kits.
In Sironko, more than 80% of Primary school going children who have reached puberty don’t use appropriate sanitary ware and as a result they have no option but to use rags, toilet paper, newspaper, leaves, and disposable nappies. These unhygienic materials can cause serious health problems for girls. Bad health has consequences for them in terms of productivity, dignity and confidence in being an active member of society. Unfortunately, menstruation’s ripple effect is that young girls are forced to drop out of school.
In 2015, with financial support from The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice NCD embarked on implementing a project entitled “Menstrual Hygiene Enhancement for Education” in which children, parents and teachers from (Budadiri Girls P/S, Buhugu P/S, Busiita P/S and Kirali P/S) in Sironko district were equipped with knowledge and skills on Menstrual Hygiene Management.
Here 80 pupils, 22 parents and 8 teachers were trained on menstrual hygiene management and making reusable pads. 4 schools were provided with materials to retrain other pupils in making reusable pads. As a result, 612 children were equipped with knowledge about menstruation. The project contributed to a reduction in pupil absenteeism as a result of increase in knowledge among parents on their role in educating children on menstruation.
In 2014, with support from UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme, NCD embarked on implementing a 2 year project aimed at equipping communities in Sironko district with knowledge, skills and technology to sustainably manage water and land resources in order to reduce the impacts of climate change and increasing resilience to future impacts by supporting communities to improve land and water management to increase agricultural production; adopt environmentally friendly agricultural practices to equitably use the available water resources, minimize land degradation and increase agricultural production; promote energy efficiency, use of improved cook stoves; and support establishment of sustainable agricultural enterprises through a communal revolving fund.
The project provided community members with 6 water irrigating pumps, supporting 223 farmers access unsecured agricultural loans, trained 83 community members in sustainable agricultural practices, trained 29 women in making energy efficient stoves, supported 46 farmers with seeds all of which are aimed at improving their resilience to the impacts of climate change.
As a result, 543 community members were sensitized on patients’ rights and responsibilities, monitoring of drug stock outs, mama kits and health worker absenteeism and 100 % of all mothers attending ANC received free Mama Kits.