The Health of Our People is the Very Foundation of National Progress

UNFPA Uganda and the Kingdom of Netherlands signed the SAY Plus Program agreement in Kampala. The Strengthening Adolescents and Youth Right and Empowerment program is a 2024–2030 UNFPA Uganda’s flagship initiative for advancing the health, rights, and empowerment of adolescents and young people aged 10–24, with a particular focus on adolescent girls, young women, and those living in humanitarian, fragile, and underserved settings.

The Ministry of Health presided over the signing ceremony and below are Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine's slightly edited remarks for the event delivered by the Director of Public Health Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze.  

Diana Atwine (MOH Photo)

By Diana Atwine

Today, we are marking a vital milestone in our collective journey to safeguard the health, well-being, and dignity of our young people.

On behalf of the Government of Uganda, I wish to express our deep appreciation to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for this substantial USD 16 Million investment in the SAYplus programme.

As we celebrate this landmark agreement with the Netherlands, we must honor the foundation upon which this programme stands. 

We extend our deepest appreciation to the Embassy of Denmark, the pioneer partner whose vision started the original SAY programme. That strong foundation laid the groundwork for Sweden and Iceland to join hands with us, expanding our ambition into what is now SAYplus. Today, with the Netherlands stepping forward with this transformative grant, we see the power of true, sustained multi-donor partnership.

I also want to recognize UNFPA for its steadfast management, technical leadership, and unwavering commitment as our key managing partner.

Within the Ministry of Health, we maintain a firm conviction: the health of our people is the very foundation of national progress. We do not see the SAYplus initiative as a secondary undertaking, but rather as a core component of our national mission to strengthen primary healthcare and provide comprehensive, integrated health services throughout the country.

It brings me satisfaction to note that this USD 16 Million grant is being thoughtfully focused on the Busoga sub-region, specifically within the districts of Namutumba, Buyende, Namayingo, and Mayuge.

We are aware of the challenges facing these four districts. Young people in Busoga navigate burdensome obstacles to their well-being, including elevated levels of adolescent pregnancy, premature motherhood, educational disruption, and gender-related risks.

Through this agreement, the Ministry of Health is committing to work hand-in-hand with our district health teams to take real solutions straight to the community level:

●       We are upgrading health facilities to ensure they provide safe, non-judgmental, and truly youth-friendly SRHR services. 

●       We are integrating HIV, GBV, and reproductive health interventions so that a young person gets comprehensive care under one roof.

●       And we are training our healthcare workers to treat every adolescent girl and young man who walks through our clinic doors with dignity, care, and respect.

We often say in government that human capital is Uganda’s most valuable asset. But let us be clear: you cannot build human capital without health.

When an adolescent girl in Namutumba or Buyende becomes pregnant at 14 or 15, her education stops, her health is risked, and her economic future is derailed. By protecting her health, enabling her to make informed choices, and delaying childbearing, we preserve her right to finish school, gain skills, and contribute meaningfully to our economy.

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights are not optional—they are the direct fuel for Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.

As we sign this agreement today, I give you the firm assurance of the Ministry of Health: we will provide rigorous oversight, policy guidance, and strategic direction to ensure that every dollar of this investment translates into saved lives, healthier mothers, and empowered youth across Busoga.

To our development partners; Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, and UNFPA: thank you for trusting our vision and walking this path with the Government of Uganda.

To the young people of Namutumba, Buyende, Namayingo, Mayuge, and across Uganda: this agreement is about your life and your future. We are committed to making sure the health system works for you.

The author is the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health 

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