Uganda’s drive to leave no one behind recognizes that gender equality is essential for national development. The country’s Vision 2040 and the SDGs underscore that gender inequality is a constraint to social and economic transformation. High‐level fora, like the April 2025 Kampala Declaration (ARFSD), reinforced that progress on SDG 5, achieving gender equality, is vital for growth. In Kampala, African ministers pledged to allocate more resources through gender-responsive budgets and to enforce equality laws, aiming to dismantle discriminatory practices. These commitments reflect Uganda’s understanding that ending gender-based violence (GBV), as embodied in SDG Target 5.2, is not just a moral imperative but a development priority.

Uganda remains among only 13 countries worldwide to achieve 100% compliance with SDG indicator 5.c.1, demonstrating strong public financial management systems for gender-responsive planning and budgeting. According to the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS), progress has been registered under SDG 5.3: the rate of child marriage has fallen by 22.2% since 2006, and FGM continues to decline sharply in practicing districts.

Target 5.2 (elimination of violence): Reports of physical or sexual violence have reduced over time. Between 2006 and 2022, physical violence reported in the past 12 months fell from 60% to 44% among women aged 15-49, and from 53% to 39% among men. Lifetime sexual violence among women decreased from 22% in 2016 to 10.7% in 2022. Despite this progress, GBV remains widespread. Strengthening justice services and passing the long-pending Sexual Offences legislation remain national priorities.

Target 5.3 (harmful practices): Uganda continues implementing the National Strategy to End Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy (2022-2027), and is undertaking coordinated interventions to achieve zero FGM by 2030. Community outreach, behavioural change communication, and enforcement of the FGM Act are sustaining ongoing reductions.
According to the 2024 Census, Uganda’s child population has reached ~25 million, reinforcing the urgency of protecting children from harmful practices within a rapidly growing youthful demographic.

Target 5.a and 5.c (resources & budgets): The Public Finance Management Act (2015) institutionalizes gender and equity budgeting across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. The 2024 Census shows women constitute 51% of Uganda’s population, underscoring the national significance of gender-responsive investments. Gender budgeting, combined with Vision 2040’s commitment to Leaving No One Behind, ensures that public programs continue prioritizing women’s empowerment, social protection, and inclusive development.

Uganda’s Constitution and laws provide a strong legal framework for gender equality. The 1995 Constitution guarantees equal dignity, equal pay for equal work, and prohibits discrimination on any grounds. Since adopting the SDGs, Parliament has passed landmark legislation: for example, affirmative-procurement quotas were introduced in the Public Procurement Act (2021), and the Succession Amendment Act (2022). Consistent with SDG 5.c, Uganda enshrined gender equality in fiscal law: the Public Finance Management Act mandates gender-equity resource allocation in all government departments, helping the country achieve full compliance with financial management targets for equality.

Crucially, Uganda has strengthened GBV laws. The National Policy on the Elimination of GBV (2016) and its Action Plan lay out a comprehensive prevention-response framework. Key statutes include the Domestic Violence Act (2010) and the Prohibition of FGM Act (2010), both grounded in the Constitution’s equality guarantees. In April 2024, Uganda’s SDG5 review noted that enforcing these laws is a top priority for ending violence.

Turning policy into practice, the Government and partners are rolling out concrete initiatives:

• Community and awareness campaigns:Uganda has launched nationwide outreach through the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative and other GBV programs. Spotlight (2019-2023) alone reached over 20 million people, working across legal reform, institutional strengthening, survivors’ services, data collection, and advocacy. Local governments and NGOs run campaigns to change harmful norms in communities, including alternative rites of passage, to accelerate abandonment of FGM and child marriage.
• Education and school programs:The Ministry of Education has instituted a National Strategic Plan on Elimination of Violence Against Children in Schools, complete with reporting and referral guidelines for schools to promote gender equality and respect from a young age.
• Engaging men and leaders:Uganda’s National Male Involvement Strategy (2017) brings religious, cultural, and community leaders into GBV prevention. Men are trained as advocates for non-violence at home and in public. The Uganda Police has also integrated SGBV awareness into its training curricula and set up specialized GBV units to handle cases sensitively.
• Access to justice:New measures are improving survivors’ access to justice. Special court sessions for GBV cases have been established to reduce delays in prosecution. Health workers are trained in the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) so survivors receive care immediately.
• Data and accountability:Uganda is expanding its gender statistics and monitoring. Annual surveys track SDG 5 indicators and GBV prevalence. The Government has committed to gender-responsive budgeting and is bolstering capacity of planning and statistical offices to use GBV data for policy.

A core lesson of Uganda’s SDG journey is that gender equality, peaceful communities, and development go hand in hand. This connection is well recognized in Uganda’s planning: the 2024 VNR notes that advancing women’s rights is “essential for sustainable development”, and the country remains committed to “promoting peace, justice and strengthening institutions” to protect all citizens. In practical terms, ending violence and discrimination builds human capital, reduces health and social service costs, and leverages women’s and men’s contributions to innovation and growth. Every Ugandan benefits when girls and boys can stay in school instead of being married off, and when survivors of abuse receive justice rather than stigma.

Ending GBV by 2030 will take a collective push. Government will continue to fund and enforce its policies, ensuring that all agencies fully implement gender-responsive budgeting. Civil society and the media should keep raising awareness, supporting survivors and holding institutions accountable. Communities and individuals should reject harmful norms, educate children about respect, and stand up against abuse whenever it occurs. During these 16 Days of Activism, we reaffirm that Uganda’s peace and prosperity depend on protecting all people against violence.